Rituximab for the treatment of calcinosis in dermatomyositis: A case series and review of the literature
Authors' conclusion
In this small series, rituximab initiation during active myositis was associated with improvement or stabilization of calcinosis; however, given the limited sample size, this observation should be interpreted cautiously and requires prospective validation.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with idiopathic inflammatory myositis (IIM) and calcinosis treated with rituximabOf 224 IIM patients, 18 had calcinosis of whom 10 received rituximab (six juvenile DM (JDM) and four adult patients) · JDM six · adult patients four
- Participants
- 10 patients
- Outcome
- Calcinosis outcome in patients with active myositis (MITAX A or B) at rituximab initiation
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
- Eight of 10 patients also had active myositis (MITAX A or B) at rituximab initiation-of these, all showed either improvement or stabilization
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Calcinosis outcome in patients with inactive disease treated solely for calcinosis
- Of the two with inactive disease treated solely for calcinosis, one stabilised; the other worsened
- The one patient who worsened had diffuse distribution and mixed morphology of calcinosis
Antibodies among the 10 patients who received rituximab
- anti-NXP2
- Five of 10 patients
- Other MSAs were anti-MDA5, anti-PL7, and anti-Mi2
Timing of calcinosis among the 10 patients who received rituximab
- Calcinosis at presentation
- Seven of 10 patients
- Developed subsequently
- three
Radiographic morphology of calcinosis
- Mixed patterns
- two
- Predominant morphologies (radiographically) were nodular and sheet-like
Original publication
Rituximab for the treatment of calcinosis in dermatomyositis: A case series and review of the literature. Rheumatology (Oxford). Published 30 October 2026. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →