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Rituximab Versus Conventional Therapy for Remission Induction in Eosinophilic Granulomatosis With Polyangiitis : A Randomized Controlled Trial

B. Terrier, G. Pugnet, C. de Moreuil, B. Bonnotte, Y. Benhamou, D. Chauveau, M. Besse, Pierre Duffau et al.

Annals of Internal Medicine, 2025

105 participants · 12 citations

Abstract

BACKGROUND

Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) is an eosinophilic antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis. Rituximab has emerged as the standard of care in other types of ANCA-associated vasculitis, but controlled studies on its use in EGPA are yet lacking.

OBJECTIVE

To compare rituximab with conventional strategy for the induction of remission in patients with EGPA.

DESIGN

Phase 3, multicenter, randomized, controlled, double-blind, superiority trial. (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02807103).

SETTING

France.

PARTICIPANTS

Patients with a diagnosis of EGPA, newly diagnosed or relapsing disease at the time of screening, with active disease defined as a Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score (BVAS) of 3 or greater.

INTERVENTION

Glucocorticoids plus rituximab (1 g 2 weeks apart) compared with the conventional strategy (glucocorticoids alone or in combination with cyclophosphamide in severe forms) for induction of remission.

MEASUREMENTS

The primary end point was remission defined as a BVAS, version 3, of 0 and a prednisone dose of 7.5 mg/d or less at day 180. Secondary end points included duration of remission during the study, average daily glucocorticoid dose, and safety.

RESULTS

A total of 105 participants were randomly assigned. Thirty-three (63.5%) patients in the rituximab group achieved the primary end point compared with 32 (60.4%) in the control group (relative risk, 1.05 [95% CI, 0.78 to 1.42]; P = 0.75). Results were similar at day 360.…

How strong is the evidence?

Evidence Hub reads this as a randomized trial, done in people. Its evidence level is 2 of 5 (High · randomized trial). Randomized trials of a reasonable size are the strongest single-study design. Reported size: 105 participants or records.

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