Serum levels of BAFF, but not APRIL, are increased after rituximab treatment in patients with primary Sj?gren's syndrome: Data from a placebo-controlled clinical trial

摘要

B cell depletion therapy with rituximab (RTX; 2 weekly infusions of 1000 mg, premedication: 100 mg prednisolone) in primary Sjogren's syndrome (pSS) patients is effective in reducing subjective and objective symptoms. As B cell activating factor (BAFF) and a proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL) are important cytokines involved in B cell survival and activation, we assessed in pSS patients included in a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial the effects of RTX on serum BAFF and APRIL levels up to 48 weeks after RTX.