Efficacy and safety of rituximab in rheumatic diseases

Summary B-cell depleting therapy is now in clinical use for more than 10 years in rheumatology. In 2001, a first report was published on five rheumatoid arthritis patients responding to the chimeric anti-CD20 antibody rituximab. Since then, numerous clinical trials, prospective and retrospective studies, registry data as well as case reports on the use of rituximab in autoimmune rheumatic diseases have been published. This review gives a short overview on clinical data of rituximab in rheumatic diseases currently available.