[Safety of rituximab in patients with rheumatoid arthritis]

RA is a chronic disease and long-term use of treatments that target TNF or B cells will be required for continued disease control. One approach to targeting B cells in RA is the use ofrituximab. It is a genetically engineered chimeric monoclonal antibody that selectively depletes peripheral B lymphocytes by binding CD20 on the cell surface. Long-term safety data show that rituximab treatment is associated with rates of infections and serious infections that remain stable over multiple treatment courses. Also, is associated with rates of malignancy consistent with data from the general RA population and is not associated with an increase in the rate of serious infections in patients who receive subsequent biologic treatment. In conclusion, rituximab is generally safe and well tolerated.