RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Safety and Efficacy of Rituximab in Childhood-onset Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Other Rheumatic Diseases
JF The Journal of Rheumatology
JO J Rheumatol
FD The Journal of Rheumatology
SP 541
OP 546
DO 10.3899/jrheum.140863
VO 42
IS 3
A1 Ajay Tambralli
A1 Timothy Beukelman
A1 Randy Quentin Cron
A1 Matthew Laurence Stoll
YR 2015
UL http://www.jrheum.org/content/42/3/541.abstract
AB Objective. Rituximab (RTX) has been used to treat many pediatric autoimmune conditions. We investigated the safety and efficacy of RTX in a variety of pediatric autoimmune diseases, especially systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Methods. Retrospective study of children treated with RTX. Effectiveness data was recorded for patients with at least 12 months of followup; safety data was recorded for all subjects. Results. The study included 104 children; 50 had SLE. Improvements in corticosteroid dosage, physician’s global assessment of disease activity, and SLE-associated markers of disease activity were seen. The incidence of hospitalized infections was similar to previous studies of patients with childhood-onset SLE. Conclusion. RTX can be safely administered to children and appears to contribute to decreased disease activity and steroid burden.