Rheumatology Medical News about CD20, Rituximab, B cell

Become a Member Today!
Register

Most Viewed Abstracts

1. Report Shows Shift in Starting Salaries for Physicians

2. Rapid correction of low vitamin D status in nursing home residents

3. 2008 Exclusive Survey—Earnings: Good news for primary care income

4. Medicare pay-for-reporting effort draws fire from frustrated doctors

5. Allopurinol-induced recurrent dress syndrome: Pathophysiology and treatment

Your Article Summary

See Latest Articles

(Click the title below to leave the MDLinx Network and go to the Journal's Website)

Monoclonal anti-CD20 antibodies: Mechanisms of action and monitoring of biological effects
Joint, Bone, Spine, 08/24/09

Renaudineau Y et al. – Study concludes that rituximab holds promise for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and Sjögren's syndrome. Although the use of rituximab has many advantages, differences exist across patients regarding the response to rituximab. The identification of biological factors that predict the rituximab response are of considerable interest, and are focus of this article.

Laboratory tests can be used to monitor the effects of rituximab, including CD20 density, Fc gamma IIIa receptor genotype and complement efficiency. To monitor the effect of rituximab, pharmacokinetic tests, B cell counts and xenoantibody levels are useful. Finally, to determine whether retreatment is in order, specific B cell subsets or autoantibodies can be looked for. None of the available tests is entirely reliable.

<< Previous
Differential articular calcified cartilage and subchondral bone...

Next >>
Hyperuricemia and cardiovascular disease: How strong is the...