B cell depletion in scleroderma lung disease:A promising new treatment?

• 作者: Dimitrios Daoussis Andrew P Andonopoulos
• 来源期刊: 世界风湿病学杂志
• 学科: 医学
• 关键词: RITUXIMAB SCLERODERMA SYSTEMIC SCLEROSIS INTERSTITIAL lung disease TREATMENT
• 年，卷（期）: 2013,（2）
• 页码范围: 9-11
• 页数: 3页
• 分类号: R

摘要

Evidence suggests that B cells may participate in the fibrotic process Based on this experimental evidence,treatment with rituximab(RTX)has been tried in systemic sclerosis(SSc)with promising results.In a randomized controlled study from our research group it was shown that treatment with 2 courses of RTX leads to a significant improvement of lung function at 1 year compared to baseline.All relevant studies have so far reported clinical and/or histologic improvement of skin fibrosis something that adds further evidence in favor of a disease modifying role of RTX in SSc.It is more than obvious that novel therapies for SSc-associated lung disease are needed.A large scale,randomized,controlled study assessing the efficacy of RTX in SSc associated interstitial lung disease is warranted.If RTX turns out to be effective it would be a major therapeutic advance in SSc since it can be administered on a long term basis due to its acceptable safety profile.