To evaluate the safety and efficacy of rituximab in patients suffering from rhupus unresponsive to therapy with non-biological disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs).
Six patients fulfilling criteria for both rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and with a DAS28 score >5.1 were enrolled to receive two fortnightly 1000 mg rituximab doses at baseline and after 28 weeks. All patients underwent clinical, laboratory, and power- Doppler (PD) ultrasonographic (US) assessment at baseline and after 14, 28 and 56 weeks.
A sustained improvement in DAS28, SLEDAI, HAQ, laboratory markers and ultrasound indices together with a significant reduction in the daily dose of prednisone were observed throughout follow-up.
Rituximab may be a safe and effective therapeutic option in refractory rhupus patients.