Editorial Review Rituximab in refractory antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis: what is the current evidence?

associated vasculitis (AAV) is recognized as a chronic, relapsing and potentially fatal disease. Cyclophosphamide and steroids remain the mainstay of treatment of AAV [1]. Unfortunately, in up to 10% of patients, disease remains refractory despite conven-tional therapy [1]. In addition, conventional therapy has some serious side effects and hence limits its long-term use. For these refractory patients and those intolerant of conventional therapy, there are limited therapeutic options. B-lymphocytes have been implicated in the pathogenesis of AAV, by being the precursors of plasma cells (PCs), which produce ANCA [2] and in the formation of granuloma in Wegener’s granulomatosis (WG) [3]. Apart from the important role in antibody production, B-cells ca