title: [B-cell-directed therapy in patients with connective tissue diseases].
abstract: B cells are able to present antigen, secrete cytokines and differentiate into (auto)antibody secreting cells and are therefore considered as an important therapeutic target in patients with autoantibody-mediated autoimmune disease. Benefits and limitations of B-cell-directed therapies and unmet medical needs are discussed in this minireview. B cell targeting broadens our armamentarium available to treat SLE and other connective tissue diseases. But further research addressing unmet medical needs is required and refractory patients receiving B cell-directed off-label therapeutics should be enrolled in registries to collect information on the value and safety of these drugs in rare autoimmune diseases.
authors.affiliation: Sektion Rheumatologie und Klinische Immunologie/ Innere Medizin D, Universitätsklinikum Münster. annett.jacobi@ukmuenster.de
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Jacobi
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dörner
mesh_terms: D056648:Anti-Neutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody-Associated Vasculitis / Q000188:drug therapy; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D016736:Antiphospholipid Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D001688:Biological Products / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003095:Collagen Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology*; D003240:Connective Tissue Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D001688:Biological Products; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; C511911:belimumab