title: Swiss consensus statement: Recommendations for optimising re-treatment with MabThera (rituximab) in rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: Rituximab is an effective treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), which has been approved for the treatment of moderate to severe disease in patients with an inadequate response to anti-TNF therapies. Rituximab differs from other available biological agents for RA by way of its unique mode of action and unrivalled long dosing interval. The efficacy of rituximab subsides progressively over time and re-therapy is generally required to maintain long term disease control. The timing of re-treatment is currently not well established and varies widely in clinical practice. The present document is a concise recommendation regarding re-treatment with rituximab, based on validated outcomes such as the DAS28 and the EULAR response criteria. The recommendation was established through consensus between practitioners familiar with rituximab therapy in RA. Optimisation of the rituximab re-treatment schedule may improve patient outcomes and balance risks and benefits for the individual patient.
authors.affiliation: Service de Rhumatologie, CHUV, Lausanne, Switzerland. jean.dudler@chuv.ch
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dudler
authors.forename: Axel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Finckh
authors.forename: Diego
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kyburz
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Langenegger
authors.forename: Burkhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Möller
authors.forename: Ute
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Schmiedel
authors.forename: Ulrich A
authors.initials: UA
authors.lastname: Walker
mesh_terms: D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine / Q000592:standards*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D019233:Retreatment; D018570:Risk Assessment; D000069283:Rituximab; D013557:Switzerland; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D000069283:Rituximab