Summary: | Treatment of granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) and microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) includes remission induction and remission maintenance. Currently, rituximab, a monoclonal antibody, is one of the therapeutic options approved for the induction phase. Recently, a number of non-comparative studies have suggested that rituximab, in combination with low-dose glucocorticoids, can also be of value in maintaining remission, in which rituximab can be used as repeated cycles in fixed intervals schedule, or as tailored administration based on antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) reappearance or titre change (disease flare or relapse). This Rapid Response report aims to review the comparative clinical effectiveness of rituximab versus other drugs used as remission maintenance therapy for GPA or MPA. Cost-effectiveness and evidence-based guidelines regarding the use of rituximab as maintenance therapy for patients with GPA and MPA will also be examined
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