title: Safety and efficacy of rituximab in childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus and other rheumatic diseases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Rituximab (RTX) has been used to treat many pediatric autoimmune conditions. We investigated the safety and efficacy of RTX in a variety of pediatric autoimmune diseases, especially systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study of children treated with RTX. Effectiveness data was recorded for patients with at least 12 months of followup; safety data was recorded for all subjects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study included 104 children; 50 had SLE. Improvements in corticosteroid dosage, physician's global assessment of disease activity, and SLE-associated markers of disease activity were seen. The incidence of hospitalized infections was similar to previous studies of patients with childhood-onset SLE.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  RTX can be safely administered to children and appears to contribute to decreased disease activity and steroid burden.
authors.affiliation: From the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Rheumatology, Birmingham, Alabama; University of Rochester Medical Center, Department of Medicine, Rochester, New York, USA.A. Tambralli, MD, University of Rochester Medical Center, Department of Medicine; T. Beukelman, MD, MSCE; R.Q. Cron, MD, PhD; M.L. Stoll, MD, PhD, MSCS, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Rheumatology.
authors.forename: Ajay
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tambralli
authors.affiliation: From the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Rheumatology, Birmingham, Alabama; University of Rochester Medical Center, Department of Medicine, Rochester, New York, USA.A. Tambralli, MD, University of Rochester Medical Center, Department of Medicine; T. Beukelman, MD, MSCE; R.Q. Cron, MD, PhD; M.L. Stoll, MD, PhD, MSCS, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Rheumatology.
authors.forename: Timothy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Beukelman
authors.affiliation: From the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Rheumatology, Birmingham, Alabama; University of Rochester Medical Center, Department of Medicine, Rochester, New York, USA.A. Tambralli, MD, University of Rochester Medical Center, Department of Medicine; T. Beukelman, MD, MSCE; R.Q. Cron, MD, PhD; M.L. Stoll, MD, PhD, MSCS, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Rheumatology.
authors.forename: Randy Quentin
authors.initials: RQ
authors.lastname: Cron
authors.affiliation: From the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Rheumatology, Birmingham, Alabama; University of Rochester Medical Center, Department of Medicine, Rochester, New York, USA.A. Tambralli, MD, University of Rochester Medical Center, Department of Medicine; T. Beukelman, MD, MSCE; R.Q. Cron, MD, PhD; M.L. Stoll, MD, PhD, MSCS, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Rheumatology. mstoll@peds.uab.edu.
authors.forename: Matthew Laurence
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Stoll
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012216:Rheumatic Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000069283:Rituximab / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D000069283:Rituximab
keywords: PEDIATRICS; RITUXIMAB; SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS; TREATMENT