title: [B-cell targeted therapy for children and adolescents with rheumatic diseases].
abstract: The introduction of cytokine-targeted therapies has significantly improved the treatment options of rheumatic diseases; however, some patients are also refractory to these treatment measures. The B cells play a central role in the pathogenesis of many rheumatic diseases and B-cell targeted therapies are a promising option as second-line medication for treating patients with a refractory disease course. Randomized controlled trials analyzing the efficacy of B-cell directed therapies for childhood rheumatic diseases have not yet been performed. The use of the B-cell depleting antibody rituximab showed positive results in non-controlled case series of juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients. Patients with a refractory disease course of oligoarticular or polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis might also benefit from B-cell depletion using rituximab. The B cell-targeting therapies for the treatment of childhood rheumatic diseases should be initiated and closely supervised by a pediatric rheumatologist.
authors.affiliation: Universitäts-Kinderklinik Würzburg.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Morbach
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Girschick
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology*; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D012216:Rheumatic Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D000069283:Rituximab
chemical_list: D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D000069283:Rituximab