Rituximab in severe, treatment-refractory interstitial lung disease.

Background And Objective: In patients with severe interstitial lung disease (ILD) progressing despite conventional immunosuppression, rituximab, a B-lymphocyte depleting monoclonal antibody, may offer an effective rescue therapy.

Methods: Retrospective assessment of 50 patients with severe, progressive ILD (of varying aetiologies, excluding idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF)) treated with rituximab between 2010 and 2012. Change in pulmonary function tests compared with pre-rituximab levels was assessed at 6-12 months post-treatment.