5. B Cell Targeting Biologics for Rheumatic Diseases.

Therapeutic targeting of B cells for rheumatic autoimmune diseases.

Autoreactive B cells are characterized by their ability to secrete autoantibodies directed against self-peptides. During the last decade, it has become increasingly apparent that B lymphocytes not only produce autoantibodies but also exert important regulatory roles independent of their function as antibody-producing cells. This is especially relevant in the context of autoimmunity, because aut...

B-cell-targeted therapy in rheumatic diseases

Treatment with biologics during pregnancy in patients with rheumatic diseases

Chronic inflammatory rheumatic diseases frequently affect women of the reproductive age. For these women family planning is an important issue in their life, yet this issue is characterized by a lot of concerns and conflicting information for both patients and doctors. To control disease activity and prevent joint or organ damage, a longterm immunosuppressive therapy is necessary in these patie...

Targeting Syk in Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases

Spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk) is a member of the Src family of non-receptor tyrosine kinases, which associates directly with surface receptors, including B-cell receptor and Fcγ receptor, and is involved in a variety of signal transduction pathways. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus are autoimmune diseases in which autoantibodies, immune complexes, and autoreactive T cel...

Fasting and rheumatic diseases

Fasting is one of the important religious practices of Muslims, in which the individuals abstain from eating and drinking from dawn to sunset. Fasting is not obligatory or even not allowed, in case it causes health problems to the fasting individual. Rheumatic diseases are a major group of chronic diseases which can bring about numerous problems while fasting. The aim of this article is to revi...