Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41107994›Full record

ArticleArthritis research & therapy2025

Efficacy and safety of rituximab versus intravenous cyclophosphamide for systemic sclerosis-associated interstitial lung disease: a retrospective cohort study.

Rioko Hiura, Masahiro Ayano, Ayumi Uchino, Junki Hiura, Naoyasu Ueda, Atsushi Tanaka, Seiji Yoshizawa, Shotaro Kawano, Fumiaki Sagawa, Shun-Ichiro Ota and 7 more

Abstract readComparative Study
In one paragraph

Article in Arthritis research & therapy, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

17 authors.

Rioko HiuraDepartment of Medicine and Biosystemic Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-Ku, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan.
Masahiro AyanoDepartment of Medicine and Biosystemic Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-Ku, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan. ayano.masahiro.811@m.kyushu-u.ac.jp.ORCID 0000-0002-2954-9676
Ayumi UchinoDepartment of Rheumatology, Iizuka Hospital, Iizuka, Japan.
Junki HiuraDepartment of Rheumatology, Iizuka Hospital, Iizuka, Japan.
Naoyasu UedaDepartment of Internal Medicine, Miyazaki Prefectural Miyazaki Hospital, Miyazaki, Japan.
Atsushi TanakaDepartment of Rheumatology, Fukuoka Red Cross Hospital, Fukuoka, Japan.
Seiji YoshizawaDepartment of Rheumatology, Hamanomachi Hospital, Fukuoka, Japan.
Shotaro KawanoDepartment of Rheumatology, Hamanomachi Hospital, Fukuoka, Japan.
Fumiaki SagawaDepartment of Rheumatology, Hamanomachi Hospital, Fukuoka, Japan.
Shun-Ichiro OtaDepartment of Rheumatology, Shimonoseki City Hospital, Shimonoseki, Japan.
Akie HirataMedical Information Center, Kyushu University Hospital, Fukuoka, Japan.
Sho FujimotoDepartment of Medicine and Biosystemic Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-Ku, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan.
Naoya NishimuraDepartment of Medicine and Biosystemic Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-Ku, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan.
Ayako Takaki-KuwaharaDepartment of Medicine and Biosystemic Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-Ku, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan.
Yasutaka KimotoDepartment of Medicine and Biosystemic Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-Ku, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan.
Koichi AkashiDepartment of Medicine and Biosystemic Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-Ku, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan.
Hiroaki NiiroDepartment of Medical Education, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.

Funding

Japan Society for the Promotion of Science JSPS KAKENHI JP23K06868
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe efficacy of rituximab (RTX) for the treatment of systemic sclerosis-associated interstitial lung disease (SSc-ILD) has not been fully established. This study compared the efficacy and safety of RTX and intravenous cyclophosphamide (CY) for SSc-ILD.

methodsThis retrospective study compared the efficacy and safety of RTX (20 patients) and CY (30 patients) after adjusting for the stabilised inverse probability of treatment weighting based on propensity scores. The efficacy endpoints were the absolute changes in forced vital capacity (FVC) and serum Krebs von den Lungen-6 (KL-6) levels from baseline to 6 and 12 months after treatment. The incidence of progression based on the definition of progressive pulmonary fibrosis was also recorded. The safety endpoint was the frequency of adverse events.

resultsThe clinical characteristics of the two groups were well-balanced after adjusting for confounders (i.e., FVC, nintedanib use, and newly diagnosed cases). From baseline to 6 and 12 months after the start of treatment, the median FVC increased by 50 and 60 ml in the RTX group and 40 and 15 ml in the CY group, respectively, with no difference after adjustment. The changes in serum KL-6 levels and the incidences of progression were identical in both groups after adjustment. The overall adverse events were similar in both groups after adjustment.

conclusionsRTX demonstrated comparable safety and efficacy as CY in patients with SSc-ILD. Thus, RTX may be an alternative to CY for the treatment of SSc-ILD.

Indexed as

CyclophosphamideImmunosuppressive AgentsLung Diseases, InterstitialRituximabScleroderma, SystemicAdministration, IntravenousAdultAgedCohort StudiesFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedRetrospective StudiesTreatment OutcomeVital CapacityCyclophosphamideImmunosuppressive AgentsRituximabCyclophosphamideInterstitial lung diseaseKrebs von den Lungen-6NintedanibRituximabSystemic sclerosis

Identifiers

PMID41107994
PMCPMC12532433

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.