[Evaluation of the effectiveness of treatment with rituximab associated to cyclophosphamide in patients with resistant idiopathic inflammatory myopathy].

Background And Objective: We report our experience with rituximab plus cyclophosphamide in the treatment of patients with resistant idiopathic inflammatory myopathies.

Patients And Method: Open-label uncontrolled prospective study on 17 patients.

Results: Evaluation was completed after 1, 6 and 12 months in 95'2, 85'7 y 52'4% of cycles, respectively.

[Thyroid dysfunction in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension. A cohort study of 58 patients].

Background And Objective: Thyroid disease (TD) is more prevalent in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) than in the general population. The frequency and the cause of this association are not well established. We aimed to quantify and analyze the incidence and characteristics of TD in a cohort of PAH patients (idiopathic or preferentially associated with systemic diseases) and review the literature.

[Efficacy of rituximab combined with cyclophosphamide in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus and peritoneal vasculitis refractory to conventional inmunosupressive therapy].

Peritoneal vasculitis is a rare and severe clinical manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus. We report a patient who presented with ascites due to peritoneal vasculitis and cutaneous, articular, hematological and renal inflammatory activity. Treatment with glucocorticoids and immunosuppressive drugs was ineffective.

[Experience with imatinib to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension].

Despite advances in the treatment of patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), survival has not improved greatly (is still very affected). Imatinib, an antagonist of platelet-derived growth factor with antiproliferative activity, has been effective in experimental models and clinically in several published reports. We report the results of imatinib therapy in 4 patients with PAH (functional class IV) who were refractory to treatment with drug combinations for this condition.