Rituximab in the management of systemic lupus erythematosus

Abstract

Objective: To review the effects of the biologic monoclonal anti-CD-20 antibody, rituximab, on renal and non-renal systemic lupus erythematosus in both uncontrolled and controlled studies. Summary: Uncontrolled studies have demonstrated potential for rituximab in treating lupus patients, but two controlled trials, one each in renal and non-renal lupus, did not confirm this. There remain reasons to believe that these controlled trials may have not been designed optimally and additional controlled trials are currently being planned to provide more data on this issue. In this review, we introduce rituximab and investigate both controlled and uncontrolled observations involving this drug. We also discuss possible reasons for the differences between their findings and provide suggestions for potential avenues of investigation, i.e. treatment dosages, concomitant treatment, and study length. Finally, we introduce three upcoming controlled trials that seek to address these important unsolved questions.