title: Efficacy and safety of rituximab therapy for systemic lupus erythematosus: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To review the efficacy and safety of rituximab therapy for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
  
  
  METHODS
  We searched for randomized controlled trails and observational studies that evaluated the effect of rituximab based on the systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity index (SLEDAI), British Isles lupus assessment group index (BILAG), urine protein levels, and the prednisolone dose, and had adequate data to calculate the mean, standard deviation (SD), and 95% confidence intervals, and to systematically review and meta-analyze observational studies with fixed effects model or random effects model.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We included 2 randomized controlled studies and 19 observational clinical studies. We summarized the data from the 19 observational studies, analyzed the heterogeneity of the literature, and then used fixed effect model or random effect model for statistical analysis. The SLEDAI, BILAG, and urine protein levels and the prednisolone dosage were decreased after rituximab treatment, and the decreases in the BILAG, urine protein levels, and the prednisolone dose were found to be significant (P<0.05), when compared with baseline level. Rituximab's adverse effects generally could be controlled with an effective dosing regimen.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although there are still controversies about rituximab's treatment on SLE, but our study had showed that rituximab had favorable effects on refractory lupus. The long-term efficacy and safety of rituximab require further study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Kidney Disease Center, the First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, China.
authors.forename: Lan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lan
authors.forename: Fei
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Jiang-hua
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011507:Proteinuria / Q000628:therapy; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D000069283:Rituximab; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D000069283:Rituximab; D011239:Prednisolone