New therapeutic approaches in rheumatoid arthritis.

The treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has changed dramatically over the past two decades. The combination of better insights into the pathophysiological and immunological mechanisms of RA and the possibilities offered by biotechnology led to the development and introduction into clinical practice of a new class of antirheumatic biologic therapies, which along with earlier and more aggressive treatment contributed to dramatically better outcomes for patients with RA. To date, nine biologic agents have been approved for the treatment for RA, and a first Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor has also been approved in the United States and various other countries in the world (but not by the European Medicines Agency [EMA]).

Effectiveness of two different doses of rituximab for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis in an international cohort: data from the CERERRA collaboration.

Background: The approved dose of rituximab (RTX) in rheumatoid arthritis is 1000 mg × 2, but some data have suggested similar clinical efficacy with 500 mg × 2. The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of the regular and low doses given as first treatment course.

Methods: Twelve European registries participating in the CERERRA collaboration (The European Collaborative Registries for the Evaluation of Rituximab in Rheumatoid Arthritis) submitted anonymized datasets with demographic, efficacy and treatment data for patients who had started RTX.