COMPARATIVE EFFICACY OF RITUXIMAB AND METHOTREXATE MONOTHERAPY IN STANDARD DOSES IN PATIENTS WITH SEVERE SYSTEMIC JUVENILE IDIOPATHIC ARTHRITIS (PRELIMINARY RESULTS)

Abstract

This article contains results of the comparative study of rituximab and methotrexate efficacy in children with systemic juvenile idiopathicarthritis. 115 patients aged 2 to 16 years were enrolled in the study, main group consisted of 75 patients receiving rituximabe, and 40 patients in control group receiving methtrexate. The efficacy of rituximab treatment was significantly higher, than that of methotrexate in standard doses. Evident improvement in patients receiving rituximab was seen already after 12 weeks of treatment. During this period in 90% of patients life-threatening systemic manifestations were relieved, acuteness of articular syndrome was decreased, lab parameters normalized. Within 24 weeks there was a significant decrease of the disease activity, improvement of joint functional activity and decrease in disability degree. 25% of patients were diagnosed with inactive stage of the disease. Methotrexate treatment had virtually no effect on systemic manifestations, there were still relapses seen in patients (including those of life-threatening conditions), persistence of active arthritis, high activity in lab parameters and disability progression were also seen against its background.Key words: systemic idiopathic juvenile arthritis, rituximab, methotrexate, children.

Keywords

• системный ювенильный идиопатический артрит
• ритуксимаб
• метотрексат, дет