title: [Experience with rituximab in the treatment of systemic erythematosus lupus].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the short-term effectiveness and tolerance of rituximab in patients with systemic lupus erythematous and distinct clinical manifestations.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirteen patients were studied. Rituximab (RTX) was indicated for refractory nephritis in 6 patients, severe thrombocytopenia in 5, aplastic anemia in 1 and peritoneal vasculitis associated with nephritis in 1. All patients received 4 weekly doses of 375 mg/m(2) of RTX. The mean length of follow-up was 12±8.5 months. Response was favorable in 9 patients: 3 with nephritis, 5 with thrombocytopenia and 1 with peritoneal vasculitis and nephritis. The mean SLE disease activity index decreased from 11 to 6.5 points. Thrombocytopenia recurred in 2 patients, who responded well to retreatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study demonstrates that RTX is safe and effective as short-term therapy for distinct clinical manifestations associated with SLE.
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Colagenosis e Hipertensión Pulmonar. Hospital Virgen del Rocío. Sevilla. España.
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: García-Hernández
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Díaz-Cobos
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Callejas-Rubio
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ocaña-Medina
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ortego-Centeno
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Román
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: de Ramón-Garrido
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Camps-García