The use of rituximab in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has shown good efficiency and also well tolerated in randomized trials. The aim of our study was to evaluate in the " real life " the efficacy of rituximab in the treatment of RA, to identify predictors of response to rituximab and to assess tolerance.
A retrospective observational study in patients with rheumatoid arthritis was made. A bivariate analysis and a logistic regression were used to identify factors associated with the response at 6 months.
The EULAR response to rituximab in the treatment of RA was 77.4 % at 3 months and 83 % at 6 months. The evolution of DAS28 at 3 months and 6 months were statistically significant (P < 0.001). The response to the treatment was associated with rheumatoid factor (RF) (P = 0,001), anti-CCP positivity (P = 0,001) and a significant disease activity (P = 0,013). Other factors (age, sex, HAQ, disease duration of RA, MTX associated corticosteroid partner) are not associated with the presence of a EULAR response rituximab. After logistic regression, there persisted an association with disease activity (OR 7.672; 95% CI 1.39-42.11; P = 0.019) and rheumatoid factor positivity (OR 7.91 ; CI 1.64-38.11; P = 0.010). We found a good tolerance in 82% of the patients.
Our study shows efficacy of rituximab in a polyarthritis Moroccan population and a good tolerance. An important activity (high DAS28) and RF positivity appeared to be associated with increased response to rituximab.