title: [The use of rituximab in rheumatoid arthritis: about 55 patients].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The use of rituximab in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has shown good efficiency and also well tolerated in randomized trials. The aim of our study was to evaluate in the " real life " the efficacy of rituximab in the treatment of RA, to identify predictors of response to rituximab and to assess tolerance.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective observational study in patients with rheumatoid arthritis was made. A bivariate analysis and a logistic regression were used to identify factors associated with the response at 6 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The EULAR response to rituximab in the treatment of RA was 77.4 % at 3 months and 83 % at 6 months. The evolution of DAS28 at 3 months and 6 months were statistically significant (P < 0.001). The response to the treatment was associated with rheumatoid factor (RF) (P = 0,001), anti-CCP positivity (P = 0,001) and a significant disease activity (P = 0,013). Other factors (age, sex, HAQ, disease duration of RA, MTX associated corticosteroid partner) are not associated with the presence of a EULAR response rituximab. After logistic regression, there persisted an association with disease activity (OR 7.672; 95% CI 1.39-42.11; P = 0.019) and rheumatoid factor positivity (OR 7.91 ; CI 1.64-38.11; P = 0.010). We found a good tolerance in 82% of the patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study shows efficacy of rituximab in a polyarthritis Moroccan population and a good tolerance. An important activity (high DAS28) and RF positivity appeared to be associated with increased response to rituximab.
authors.forename: F E
authors.initials: FE
authors.lastname: Abourazzak
authors.forename: R Boussaadani
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Soubai
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chellat
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: El Mezouar
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Harzy
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009018:Morocco / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000069283:Rituximab / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D000069283:Rituximab