Chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction in the course of systemic sclerosis successfully treated with intravenous immunoglobulins and rituximab.

Chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction (CIPO) is an infrequent and menacing complication of systemic sclerosis (SSc). While researchers report positive impact of rituximab (RTX) on CIPO in paraneoplastic syndrome, no case reports exist for SSc-associated CIPO. The aim of this case-based review is to analyses current literature in context of particular CIPO case description. This analysis was based on PubMed/MEDLINE database and was conducted using the selected key terms. Finally 40 studies/case reports and one case description from authors clinical experience were included into comparison and discussion. As conclusion description of successfuly treatment with RTX and intravenous immunoglobulins can confirm the suggestions from other studies that B-cells participate in the pathogenesis of SSc, making RTX a potentially effective therapeutic option also in coexisting CIPO.