Study on the possible role of the -174G>C IL-6 promoter polymorphism in predicting response to rituximab in rheumatoid arthritis
Several studies demonstrated the efficacy of the B-cell depletion therapy with rituximab (RTX) in RA patients, including those unresponsive to anti- TNF therapy, underlying the important role of B cells in this disease (1-5). Several recent papers have demonstrated a differential effects of RTX in d...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
PAGEPress Publications
2011-06-01
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| Series: | Reumatismo |
| Online Access: | http://www.reumatismo.org/index.php/reuma/article/view/490 |
| Summary: | Several studies demonstrated the efficacy of the B-cell depletion therapy with rituximab (RTX) in RA patients, including those unresponsive to anti- TNF therapy, underlying the important role of B cells in this disease (1-5). Several recent papers have demonstrated a differential effects of RTX in depleting B-cells and blocking plasma cell generation at the synovial and at the bone marrow level (7-9). This differential effect may explain why among patients who respond to RTX, some relapse while others show a very prolonged response, independently from the reappearance of B-cells in the peripheral blood (6). However, the efficacy of RTX may also depend on the individual genetic predisposition. At this regard, very few data were produced by now. |
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| ISSN: | 0048-7449 2240-2683 |