[Rituximab in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: systematic review]

Biologic treatments are newly used in rheumatoid arthritis. Three tumornecrosis factor alfa (TNF-alpha) inhibitors--adalimumab, etanercept and infliximab--have been licensed for rheumatoid arthritis in Hungary. B-cell targeted treatment with rituximab is the next biologic treatment. Rituximab was used earlier for the treatment of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Rituximab was registered to be used in patients with rheumatoid arthritis who have had an inadequate response or an intolerance to one or more TNF-alpha blocking agents.

Systematic review in the literature of efficacy of rituximab in rheumatoid arthritis. To assess the efficacy and safety of rituximab treatment in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

MEDLINE and Cochrane database were searched for randomized controlled trials with rituximab in rheumatoid arthritis. A meta-analysis of trial data was conducted.

Three randomized controlled trials were identified including 1145 patients. 54% of patients with inadequate response to TNF-alfa inhibitors and severe disease-activity have reached American College of Rheumatology 20 criteria. This ratio is larger with 33% (95% CI, 25-41%) than without treatment, and patients have almost five times (relative risk = 4.77 95% CI, 3.12-7.31) chance to improve. Functional status represented by Health Assessment Questionnaire score improves significantly (p < 0.001) in rituximab arms (-0.4 scores) compared with placebo arms (-0.1 scores). EULAR moderate and good responses in the rituximab group were significant (p < 0.00001) compared with the placebo group, rate difference is 38% (95% CI, 32-44%). Rituximab improves also radiological symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis.

New therapeutic options, rituximab is efficacious in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Rituximab can improve symptoms of patients with inadequate response to or intolerance of TNF-alpha inhibitors.