Response of eosinophilic fasciitis associated with Waldenström macroglobulinemia to rituximab

Dermatol Online J. 2021 Aug 15;27(8). doi: 10.5070/D327854694.

Abstract

Eosinophilic fasciitis (EF) and generalized morphea (GM) are rare and difficult-to-treat sclerosing skin diseases which may occur in association with hematologic disorders. We present a 66-year-old man with EF and associated Waldenström macroglobulinemia who received combination therapy with rituximab (375mg/m2 every other week, gradually extended to every eight weeks), prednisolone (1.25-30mg/d), and methotrexate (7.5-15mg/w). Three months after rituximab initiation, his skin condition improved steadily accompanied by a significant improvement in joint mobility with only mild and transitory flares (observation period: 59 months under treatment with rituximab). To date, there are five case reports on rituximab treatment of EF/GM with an association to hypergammaglobulinemia in three of those cases. Therapy effected significant improvement in four patients. Our case adds to the hitherto limited evidence that rituximab may be a promising therapeutic strategy for EF/GM in association with hypergammaglobulinemia.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Arm / diagnostic imaging
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Eosinophilia / complications
  • Eosinophilia / diagnostic imaging
  • Eosinophilia / drug therapy*
  • Eosinophilia / pathology
  • Fasciitis / complications
  • Fasciitis / diagnostic imaging
  • Fasciitis / drug therapy*
  • Fasciitis / pathology
  • Glucocorticoids / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Immunologic Factors / therapeutic use*
  • Male
  • Methotrexate / therapeutic use
  • Prednisolone / therapeutic use
  • Rituximab / therapeutic use*
  • Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia / complications*

Substances

  • Glucocorticoids
  • Immunologic Factors
  • Rituximab
  • Prednisolone
  • Methotrexate

Supplementary concepts

  • Eosinophilic Fasciitis