Rituximab treatment for connective tissue diseases associated-pulmonary hypertension: a systematic literature review

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Rituximab (RTX) in the treatment of pulmonary hypertension (PH) in patients with connective tissue diseases (CTDs). METHODS: A systematic review of the published literature was performed according to the PRISMA guidelines. Eligible articles were clinical trials, cohort studies, case series, and case reports of adult patients with CTD-PH treated with RTX. The selected languages were English and French. RESULTS: Six studies fulfilled the selection criteria and two of them were prospective. Most patients were from the U.S.A. and Russia. The predominant sex was female (85.9%), and the age of the included patients ranged from 29 years to 67 years. PH was confirmed by right heart catheterization in 3 studies. The CTDs associated with PH were systemic sclerosis (3 cases), adult-onset Still's disease (one case), systemic lupus erythematosus (one case) and mixed connective tissue disease (one case). The mean number of infusions was 4.2. The mean follow-up period across all studies was 18.3 months. Clinical and paraclinical parameters before and after RTX infusions were evaluated and showed improvement. RTX for the treatment of CTD-PH appeared to be well tolerated. CONCLUSIONS: PROSPERO, ID: CRD420251037839.