title: Use of rituximab as a treatment for systemic lupus erythematosus: retrospective review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report the experience in three Brazilian institutions with the use of rituximab in patients with different clinical forms of lupus erythematosus systemic in activity.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study consisted of a sample of 17 patients with LES, who were already being treated, but that at some stage of the disease showed refractory symptoms. The patients were subdivided into groups according to the clinical manifestation, and the responses for the use of rituximab were rated as complete, partial or no response. Data were collected through a spreadsheet, and used specific parameters for each group. The treatment was carried on by using therapeutic dose of 1g, and repeating the infusion within an interval of 15 days.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The clinical responses to rituximab of the group only hematological and of the group only osteoarticular were complete in all cases. In the renal group there was a clinical complete response, two partial and one absent. In the renal and hematological group complete response, there was one death and a missing response. The pulmonary group presented a complete response and two partial.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study demonstrated that rituximab can bring benefits to patients with lupus erythematosus systemic, with good tolerability and mild side effects; it presented, however, variable response according to the system affected.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal da Paraíba, João Pessoa, PB, Brazil.
authors.forename: Roberta Ismael Lacerda
authors.initials: RI
authors.lastname: Machado
authors.affiliation: Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Morton Aaron
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Scheinberg
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal da Paraíba, João Pessoa, PB, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria Yvone Carlos Formiga de
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Queiroz
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal da Paraíba, João Pessoa, PB, Brazil.
authors.forename: Danielle Christinne Soares Egypto de
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Brito
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Vitória, ES, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria Fernanda Brandao de Resende
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Guimarães
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Vitória, ES, Brazil.
authors.forename: Raquel Altoé
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Giovelli
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal da Paraíba, João Pessoa, PB, Brazil.
authors.forename: Eutilia Andrade Medeiros
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Freire
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001938:Brazil; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000069283:Rituximab; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D000069283:Rituximab
references.citation: Blood. 1997 Sep 15;90(6):2188-95
references.pmid: 9310469
references.citation: Scand J Rheumatol. 2004;33(6):423-7
references.pmid: 15794203
references.citation: Lupus. 2012 Sep;21(10):1063-76
references.pmid: 22786985
references.citation: Nat Immunol. 2001 Sep;2(9):764-6
references.pmid: 11526379
references.citation: Drugs. 2003;63(8):803-43
references.pmid: 12662126
references.citation: Arthritis Rheum. 2011 Oct;63(10):3038-47
references.pmid: 21618204
references.citation: Thorax. 2000 Feb;55(2):159-66
references.pmid: 10639536
references.citation: Acta Med Port. 2008 Mar-Apr;21(2):199-204
references.pmid: 18625099
references.citation: Lupus. 2012 Sep;21(10):1124-7
references.pmid: 22460294
references.citation: J Immunol. 1999 Oct 1;163(7):3592-6
references.pmid: 10490951
references.citation: Lupus. 2009 Aug;18(9):767-76
references.pmid: 19578100
references.citation: Health Technol Assess. 2004 Sep;8(37):iii, ix-xi, 1-82
references.pmid: 15361313
references.citation: Arthritis Rheum. 1997 Sep;40(9):1725
references.pmid: 9324032
references.citation: Arthritis Rheum. 2004 Aug;50(8):2580-9
references.pmid: 15334472
references.citation: N Engl J Med. 2004 Jun 17;350(25):2572-81
references.pmid: 15201414
references.citation: Treat Endocrinol. 2002;1(5):271-9
references.pmid: 15832482
references.citation: Arthritis Rheum. 2002 Oct;46(10):2673-7
references.pmid: 12384926
references.citation: Autoimmun Rev. 2012 Mar;11(5):357-64
references.pmid: 22032879
references.citation: J Exp Med. 1999 May 17;189(10):1639-48
references.pmid: 10330443
references.citation: Rev Bras Reumatol. 2011 Sep-Oct;51(5):410-1
references.pmid: 21952993
references.citation: Arthritis Rheum. 2012 Apr;64(4):1215-26
references.pmid: 22231479
references.citation: Intern Med J. 2006 Apr;36(4):260-2
references.pmid: 16640745
references.citation: F1000 Biol Rep. 2009 May 28;1:39
references.pmid: 20948646
references.citation: Clin Exp Rheumatol. 2006 Jan-Feb;24(1):65-9
references.pmid: 16539821
references.citation: Arthritis Rheum. 2010 Jan;62(1):222-33
references.pmid: 20039413