Swiss consensus statement: Recommendations for optimising re-treatment with MabThera (rituximab) in rheumatoid arthritis.

[Rituximab (Mabthera)--new approach in treatment of rheumatoid arthritis].

Updated consensus statement on the use of rituximab in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

BACKGROUND Since initial approval for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), rituximab has been evaluated in clinical trials involving various populations with RA. Information has also been gathered from registries. This report therefore updates the 2007 consensus document on the use of rituximab in the treatment of RA. METHODS Preparation of this new document involved many international...

Targeted therapies in rheumatoid arthritis: Focus on rituximab

B-cell depletion is a new strategy for treating patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In the past years, several studies have proven the efficacy of anti-CD20 mediated B-cell depletion with rituximab (Mabthera((R))) in RA patients who failed TNF-blocking therapy. The important role of B-cells in the pathogenesis of RA is deducted from the specific detection of autoantibodies in RA and infilt...

Rituximab for post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease _PTLD.pub

Rituximab is a monocloncal antibody that binds specifically to CD20, an antigen expressed on the surface of mature and immature B lymphocytes. The binding of rituximab to CD20 results in cell lysis via the recruitment of immune effector functions; it has also been demonstrated to induce cell death via apoptosis. Rituximab (Mabthera®) is licensed in the UK for the treatment of Non-Hodgkin’s lymp...

The Belgian MIRA (MabThera In Rheumatoid Arthritis) registry: clues for the optimization of rituximab treatment strategies

INTRODUCTION This study describes the results of the Belgian 'MabThera In Rheumatoid Arthritis (MIRA)' registry: effectiveness, safety and evaluation of the current retreatment practice on the background of the Belgian reimbursement criteria for rituximab. METHODS All Belgian rheumatologists had the possibility to participate in the study. Patients entered the registry in November 2006 and th...