Rituximab levels are associated with the B cell homeostasis but not with the clinical response in patients with rheumatoid arthritis
Diaz-Torne, Cesar (Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica Sant Pau)
Ortiz, M. Àngels (Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica Sant Pau)
Sarmiento, Mónica (Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica Sant Pau)
Díaz-López, César (Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica Sant Pau)
Corominas, Hèctor (Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica Sant Pau)
Casademont i Pou, Jordi (Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica Sant Pau)
Vidal, Silvia (Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica Sant Pau)
Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona

Date:	2019
Abstract:	To study the levels of rituximab (RTX) and anti-RTX antibodies (ARAs) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) at 30, 90, and 180 days after the first infusion, in relation to clinical and serological parameters and B cell homeostasis. Thirty-four patients with RA who failed to respond to anti-tumor necrosis factor therapy received RTX. At baseline, 4, 12, and 24 weeks after the first infusion of RTX, we performed a clinical assessment and determined the levels of RTX, ARAs, B cells, rheumatoid factors, anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies, immunoglobulins, and complements. RTX levels varied widely among patients. No ARAs were detected during the follow-up. Patients with lower levels of RTX presented with higher decreases in erythrocyte sedimentation rate, immunoglobulins, and complement 6 months after the first infusion. Patients with higher levels of RTX showed a higher B cell depletion at 90 days but an earlier B cell recovery than those with lower levels of RTX. No differences in clinical response were observed between the two groups at 6 months after starting the treatment. Our findings suggest that RTX levels in the serum of patients with RA are related to B cell homeostasis and the severity of immunological parameters but not to the clinical response at 6 months.
Rights:	Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, la comunicació pública de l'obra i la creació d'obres derivades, sempre que no sigui amb finalitats comercials, i sempre que es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió publicada
Subject:	Rheumatoid arthritis ; Rituximab ; B cells
Published in:	European Journal of Rheumatology, Vol. 6 (april 2019) , p. 81-84, ISSN 2148-4279

DOI: 10.5152/eurjrheum.2019.18109
PMID: 31365341

4 p, 157.3 KB

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Research literature > UAB research groups literature > Research Centres and Groups (research output) > Health sciences and biosciences > Institut de Recerca Sant Pau
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