Rituximab for the Treatment of Refractory Cardiac Sarcoidosis: A Single-Center Experience. 2022

Mohamed Elwazir, and Megan L Krause, and John P Bois, and Georgios Christopoulos, and Ayse T Kendi, and Jr Leslie T Cooper, and Hayan Jouni, and Omar F Abouezzeddine, and Panithaya Chareonthaitawee, and Mohamed Abdelshafee, and Shreyasee Amin
Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt; Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.

We sought to examine the effect of anti-B-cell therapy (rituximab) on cardiac inflammation and function in corticosteroid-refractory cardiac sarcoidosis. Cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) is a rare cause of cardiomyopathy characterized by granulomatous inflammation involving the myocardium. Although typically responsive to corticosteroid treatment, there is a critical need for identifying effective steroid-sparing agents for disease control. Despite increasing evidence on the role of B cells in the pathogenesis of sarcoidosis, there is limited data on the efficacy of anti-B-cell therapy, specifically rituximab, for controlling CS. We reviewed the clinical experience at a tertiary care referral center of all patients with CS who received rituximab after failing to improve with initial immunosuppression therapy, which included corticosteroids. Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG PET/CT) images before and after rituximab treatment were evaluated. All images were interpreted by 2 experienced nuclear medicine trained physicians. We identified 7 patients (5 men, 2 women; mean age at diagnosis, 49.0 ± 7.9 years) with active CS who were treated with rituximab. The median length of follow-up was 5.1 years. All individuals, but 1, had received prior steroid-sparing agents in addition to corticosteroids. Rituximab was administered either as 1000 mg intravenously ×1 or ×2 doses, separated by 2 weeks. Repeat dosing, if appropriate, was considered after 6 months. All tolerated the infusions well. Inflammation as assessed by maximum standardized uptake value on cardiac FDG PET/CT uptake significantly decreased in 6 of 7 patients (median 6.0-4.5, Wilcoxon signed rank z -1.8593, W 3), whereas the left ventricular ejection fraction improved or stabilized in 4 patients but decreased in 3. The mean left ventricular ejection fraction was 40.1% and 43.3% before and after treatment, respectively (P = .28). Three patients reported improved physical capacity, and 5 patients showed improved arrhythmic burden on Holter monitoring or implantable cardioverter-defibrillator interrogation. One patient subsequently developed a fungal catheter-associated infection and sepsis requiring discontinuation. Rituximab was well-tolerated and seemed to decrease inflammation, as assessed by cardiac FDG PET/CT in all but 1 patient with active CS. These data suggest that rituximab may be a promising therapeutic option for CS, which deserves merits further study.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D009202 Cardiomyopathies A group of diseases in which the dominant feature is the involvement of the CARDIAC MUSCLE itself. Cardiomyopathies are classified according to their predominant pathophysiological features (DILATED CARDIOMYOPATHY; HYPERTROPHIC CARDIOMYOPATHY; RESTRICTIVE CARDIOMYOPATHY) or their etiological/pathological factors (CARDIOMYOPATHY, ALCOHOLIC; ENDOCARDIAL FIBROELASTOSIS). Myocardial Disease,Myocardial Diseases,Myocardial Diseases, Primary,Myocardial Diseases, Secondary,Myocardiopathies,Primary Myocardial Disease,Cardiomyopathies, Primary,Cardiomyopathies, Secondary,Primary Myocardial Diseases,Secondary Myocardial Diseases,Cardiomyopathy,Cardiomyopathy, Primary,Cardiomyopathy, Secondary,Disease, Myocardial,Disease, Primary Myocardial,Disease, Secondary Myocardial,Diseases, Myocardial,Diseases, Primary Myocardial,Diseases, Secondary Myocardial,Myocardial Disease, Primary,Myocardial Disease, Secondary,Myocardiopathy,Primary Cardiomyopathies,Primary Cardiomyopathy,Secondary Cardiomyopathies,Secondary Cardiomyopathy,Secondary Myocardial Disease
D005260 Female Females
D006333 Heart Failure A heterogeneous condition in which the heart is unable to pump out sufficient blood to meet the metabolic need of the body. Heart failure can be caused by structural defects, functional abnormalities (VENTRICULAR DYSFUNCTION), or a sudden overload beyond its capacity. Chronic heart failure is more common than acute heart failure which results from sudden insult to cardiac function, such as MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION. Cardiac Failure,Heart Decompensation,Congestive Heart Failure,Heart Failure, Congestive,Heart Failure, Left-Sided,Heart Failure, Right-Sided,Left-Sided Heart Failure,Myocardial Failure,Right-Sided Heart Failure,Decompensation, Heart,Heart Failure, Left Sided,Heart Failure, Right Sided,Left Sided Heart Failure,Right Sided Heart Failure
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000069283 Rituximab A murine-derived monoclonal antibody and ANTINEOPLASTIC AGENT that binds specifically to the CD20 ANTIGEN and is used in the treatment of LEUKEMIA; LYMPHOMA and RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS. CD20 Antibody, Rituximab,GP2013,IDEC-C2B8,IDEC-C2B8 Antibody,Mabthera,Rituxan,IDEC C2B8,IDEC C2B8 Antibody,Rituximab CD20 Antibody
D000072078 Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography An imaging technique that combines a POSITRON-EMISSION TOMOGRAPHY (PET) scanner and a CT X RAY scanner. This establishes a precise anatomic localization in the same session. CT PET,CT PET Scan,PET CT Scan,PET-CT,PET-CT Scan,Positron Emission Tomography-Computed Tomography,CT PET Scans,CT Scan, PET,CT Scans, PET,PET CT Scans,PET Scan, CT,PET Scans, CT,PET-CT Scans,Scan, CT PET,Scan, PET CT,Scan, PET-CT,Scans, CT PET,Scans, PET CT,Scans, PET-CT
D012507 Sarcoidosis An idiopathic systemic inflammatory granulomatous disorder comprised of epithelioid and multinucleated giant cells with little necrosis. It usually invades the lungs with fibrosis and may also involve lymph nodes, skin, liver, spleen, eyes, phalangeal bones, and parotid glands. Besnier-Boeck Disease,Boeck's Sarcoid,Besnier-Boeck-Schaumann Syndrome,Boeck Disease,Boeck's Disease,Schaumann Disease,Schaumann Syndrome,Schaumann's Syndrome,Besnier Boeck Disease,Besnier Boeck Schaumann Syndrome,Boeck Sarcoid,Boecks Disease,Boecks Sarcoid,Disease, Schaumann,Sarcoid, Boeck's,Sarcoidoses,Schaumann's Syndromes,Syndrome, Besnier-Boeck-Schaumann,Syndrome, Schaumann,Syndrome, Schaumann's
D013318 Stroke Volume The amount of BLOOD pumped out of the HEART per beat, not to be confused with cardiac output (volume/time). It is calculated as the difference between the end-diastolic volume and the end-systolic volume. Ventricular Ejection Fraction,Ventricular End-Diastolic Volume,Ventricular End-Systolic Volume,Ejection Fraction, Ventricular,Ejection Fractions, Ventricular,End-Diastolic Volume, Ventricular,End-Diastolic Volumes, Ventricular,End-Systolic Volume, Ventricular,End-Systolic Volumes, Ventricular,Fraction, Ventricular Ejection,Fractions, Ventricular Ejection,Stroke Volumes,Ventricular Ejection Fractions,Ventricular End Diastolic Volume,Ventricular End Systolic Volume,Ventricular End-Diastolic Volumes,Ventricular End-Systolic Volumes,Volume, Stroke,Volume, Ventricular End-Diastolic,Volume, Ventricular End-Systolic,Volumes, Stroke,Volumes, Ventricular End-Diastolic,Volumes, Ventricular End-Systolic
D016277 Ventricular Function, Left The hemodynamic and electrophysiological action of the left HEART VENTRICLE. Its measurement is an important aspect of the clinical evaluation of patients with heart disease to determine the effects of the disease on cardiac performance. Left Ventricular Function,Function, Left Ventricular,Functions, Left Ventricular,Left Ventricular Functions,Ventricular Functions, Left

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