Two Decades Rituximab Therapy in Anti-Neutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody Associated Vasculitis

Two Decades Rituximab Therapy in Anti-Neutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody Associated Vasculitis Publisher Pubmed

Habibi MA¹ ; Ahmadpour S² ; Tafaroji J³ ; Eazi SM⁴ ; Minaee P⁴ ; Mohammadpour Y^{2, 5} ; Tavakolpour S⁶

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1. Department of Neurosurgery, Shariati Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
2. Patient Safety Research Center, Clinical Research Institute, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
3. Pediatric Medicine Research Center, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom, Iran
4. Student Research Committee, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom, Iran
5. Department of Medical Education, School of Medicine, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
6. Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States

Source: Current Drug Targets Published:2025

Abstract

Remission failure and relapse numerate as one of the main problems in patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (AAVs). The need for new agents that provide effective and safe induction accompanied by sustained remission seems to be urgent in clinical care. The efficacy and safety of rituximab (RTX) for AAVs therapy has been reported in various studies. RTX therapy offers several advantages to treating AAVs patients compared to other therapeutic approaches including reduction of Glucocorticoids (GCs) and conventional Immunosuppressive therapy (IST) usage during both the induction of remission and maintenance phases. This reduction can lead to a lower rate of serious complications making RTX therapy a safer option. It seems that RTX may provide improved clinical outcomes in these patients mediated via B-lymphocyte depletion, Proteinase 3-antineutrophilic cytoplasmic antibody (PR3-ANCA), and myeloperoxidase-antineutrophilic cytoplasmic antibody (MPO-ANCA) titers reduction. In this regard, some uncertainties have been reported to validate the association between such depletion and clinical improvement, as suggested by other sources of autoreactive B cells that did not target with RTX. Due to the prolonged B cell depletion, fixed intervals and adjusted dosage of RTX may be required in patients with AAVs. In this narrative review, we aimed to insight better understand regarding the efficacy of RTX for effective induction and sustained remission in patients with AAVs. It seems that discovering new biomarkers predicting relapse in AAVs patients can lead to future targeted therapy. © 2025 Bentham Science Publishers.

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Kamran Balighi (3)

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Style	Citing Format
MLA	Habibi MA, et al.. "Two Decades Rituximab Therapy in Anti-Neutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody Associated Vasculitis." Current Drug Targets, vol. 26, no. 2, 2025, pp. 73-87.
APA	Habibi MA, Ahmadpour S, Tafaroji J, Eazi SM, Minaee P, Mohammadpour Y, Tavakolpour S (2025). Two Decades Rituximab Therapy in Anti-Neutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody Associated Vasculitis. Current Drug Targets, 26(2), 73-87.
Chicago	Habibi MA, Ahmadpour S, Tafaroji J, Eazi SM, Minaee P, Mohammadpour Y, Tavakolpour S. "Two Decades Rituximab Therapy in Anti-Neutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody Associated Vasculitis." Current Drug Targets 26, no. 2 (2025): 73-87.
Harvard	Habibi MA et al. (2025) 'Two Decades Rituximab Therapy in Anti-Neutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody Associated Vasculitis', Current Drug Targets, 26(2), pp. 73-87.
Vancouver	Habibi MA, Ahmadpour S, Tafaroji J, Eazi SM, Minaee P, Mohammadpour Y, et al.. Two Decades Rituximab Therapy in Anti-Neutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody Associated Vasculitis. Current Drug Targets. 2025;26(2):73-87.
BibTex	@article{ author = {Habibi MA and Ahmadpour S and Tafaroji J and Eazi SM and Minaee P and Mohammadpour Y and Tavakolpour S}, title = {Two Decades Rituximab Therapy in Anti-Neutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody Associated Vasculitis}, journal = {Current Drug Targets}, volume = {26}, number = {2}, pages = {73-87}, year = {2025} }
RIS	TY - JOUR AU - Habibi MA AU - Ahmadpour S AU - Tafaroji J AU - Eazi SM AU - Minaee P AU - Mohammadpour Y AU - Tavakolpour S TI - Two Decades Rituximab Therapy in Anti-Neutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody Associated Vasculitis JO - Current Drug Targets VL - 26 IS - 2 SP - 73 EP - 87 PY - 2025 ER -

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