Successful Early Rituximab Treatment in a Case of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus with Potentially Fatal Diffuse Alveolar Hemorrhage

摘要

Diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH) is a rare but devastating complication of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with a high early mortality rate. DAH seldom occurs without active organ involvement. Recently, rituximab (RTX), a B cell-targeted therapy, has been reported to be effective for life-threatening autoimmune diseases. We describe a SLE patient who presented with acute respiratory failure due to DAH without other active organ involvement. This condition was dramatically improved with RTX without cyclophosphamide. (C) 2014 S. Karger AG, Basel