Rituximab for Juvenile Dermatomyositis

Rituximab and other biologic agents should be reserved for treating recalcitrant disease until more evidence shows otherwise.

Rituximab has been used in open-label case series and individual cases for patients with inflammatory myopathy who are refractory to standard therapies including systemic corticosteroids and immunosuppressive agents. The cases and series have primarily included adults. The effect on myopathy has been the primary outcome measure for most observations, and although some reports document improvement of skin disease, many reports suggest that skin disease is not dramatically affected. Little information is available on rituximab's effects in children or on its effectiveness for calcinosis, which more frequently complicates dermatomyositis (DM).

These authors retrospectively analyzed results of rituximab treatment in nine patients with juvenile D…

Reviewing Author

Jeffrey P. Callen, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory board XOMA; Eli Lilly; Celgene

Equity Various trust accounts

Editorial boards JAMA Dermatology; UpToDate

Leadership positions in professional societies Association of Professors of Dermatology (President-Elect)