Treatment of vasculitis
View Patent ↗The present invention concerns treatment of autoimmune diseases with antagonists which bind to B cell surface markers, such as CD19 or CD20.
1. A method of treating vasculitis in a human who does not have rheumatoid arthritis or cancer comprising administering to the human a therapeutically effective amount of rituximab, wherein the administration of the rituximab consists of intravenous administration.
2. A method of treating vasculitis in a human who does not have rheumatoid arthritis or cancer comprising:
(a) administering to the human more than one intravenous dose of a therapeutically effective amount of rituximab; and
(b) administering to the human glucocorticosteroid.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein the glucocorticosteroid is prednisone, methylprednisolone, or dexamethasone.
4. A method of treating vasculitis in a human who does not have rheumatoid arthritis or cancer comprising:
(a) administering to the human more than one intravenous dose of a therapeutically effective amount of an antibody that binds to the CD20 antigen on human B lymphocytes; and
(b) administering to the human glucocorticosteroid;
wherein the CD20 antibody administration consists of intravenous administration of the CD20 antibody, and the CD20 antibody is rituximab.
5. The method of claim 4 wherein the glucocorticosteroid is prednisone, methylprednisolone, or dexamethasone.
6. A method of treating vasculitis in a human who does not have rheumatoid arthritis or cancer comprising:
(a) administering to the human more than one intravenous dose of a therapeutically effective amount of an antibody that binds to the CD20 antigen on human B lymphocytes; and
(b) administering to the human glucocorticosteroid;
wherein the therapeutically effective amount of the CD20 antibody is administered intravenously, and the CD20 antibody is rituximab.
7. The method of claim 6 wherein the glucocorticosteroid is prednisone, methylprednisolone, or dexamethasone.
8. The method of claim 1 further comprising administering glucocorticosteroid to the human.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein the glucocorticosteroid is prednisone, methylprednisolone, or dexamethasone.
10. A method of treating vasculitis in a human who does not have rheumatoid arthritis or cancer comprising administering to the human rituximab in an amount effective to deplete B-cells in the human, wherein the administration of the rituximab consists of intravenous administration.
11. The method of claim 10 further comprising administering glucocorticosteroid to the human.
12. The method of claim 11 wherein the glucocorticosteroid is prednisone, methylprednisolone, or dexamethasone.