Partial and simultaneous remission of nephritis and autoimmune hemolytic anemia in patients with lupus after treatment with biological agent: a case report

• Main Authors: Marcus I. Fernandes, Evania C. Q. de Figueiredo, Maria Angelina C. Fernandes, Camila M. F. Dantas, Ítalo E. L. Ferreira
• Format: Article
• Language: Portuguese
• Published: Universidade de São Paulo 2017-02-01
• Series: Medicina
• Subjects: Lupus Erythematosus; Systemic. Lupus Nephritis. Rituximab. Anemia; Hemolytic; Autoimmune
• Online Access: http://www.revistas.usp.br/rmrp/article/view/135049

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic inflammatory disease, systemic, of unknown cause and autoimmune nature. It features variable prognosis, depending on the affected organ or system. The renal impairment is the condition most often related to morbidity and mortality. This manuscript aims to contribute to the further evidence that early diagnosis of lupus associated with quickly aggressive therapy could increase the success outcome rate. Also, immediate recognition of therapeutic failures and change the treatment strategy must be applied. In this regard, a new therapeutic option seems to be the biological drug rituximab described in this study and which it is emphasised because of its possible and still supposed ability to act as a rescue agent for nephritis and hemolytic lupus anaemia, simultaneously, with effectiveness and safety. This article presents the case of female lupus patient with both severe refractory hematologic disorder and renal impairment, which had an evolution of the simultaneous restoration of urine output, and clinical and laboratory improvement of autoimmune anaemia after rituximab administration. The persistence of renal damage could not be ruled out, so the response to treatment was considered to be partial