Bibliographic Details
| Title: |
B-Cell Depletion Therapy in Systemic Sclerosis: Experimental Rationale and Update on Clinical Evidence. |
| Authors: |
Daoussis, Dimitrios1 jimdaoussis@hotmail.com, Liossis, Stamatis-Nick C.1, Yiannopoulos, Georgios1, Andonopoulos, Andrew P.1 |
| Source: |
International Journal of Rheumatology. 2011, Vol. 2011, p1-7. 7p. 1 Chart. |
| Subject Terms: |
*B cells, *SYSTEMIC scleroderma, *CLINICAL pathology, *LABORATORY mice, *LUNG diseases, *FIBROSIS, *COLLAGEN diseases, *CYTOLOGY |
| Abstract: |
Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a systemic rheumatic disease with poor prognosis since therapeutic options are limited. Recent evidence from animal models suggests that B-cells may be actively involved in the fibrotic process. B-cells from tight skin mice, an animal model of scleroderma, display a "hyperresponsive" phenotype; treatment with rituximab (RTX) significantly attenuates skin fibrosis in this animal model. In humans, B-cell infiltration is a prominent finding in most lung biopsies obtained from patients with SSc-associated interstitial lung disease. Several open label studies have assessed the clinical efficacy of RTX in SSc. In most patients skin fibrosis improved; lung function either improved or remained stable. Definite conclusions regarding the clinical efficacy of RTX in SSc cannot be drawn but further exploration with a multicenter, randomized study is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| Database: |
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