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Lookup NU author(s): Emerita Professor Helen Foster
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).
ObjectivesRituximab (RTX) may be a treatment option for children and young people with JIA, although it is not licensed for this indication. The aim of this study was to describe RTX use and outcomes among children with JIA.MethodsThis analysis included all JIA patients within the UK Biologics for Children with Rheumatic Diseases study starting RTX. Disease activity was assessed at RTX start and at follow-up. The total number of courses each patient received was assessed. Serious infections and infusion reactions occurring following RTX were reported.ResultsForty-one JIA patients starting RTX were included, the majority with polyarthritis: polyarthritis RF negative [n = 14 (35%)], polyarthritis RF positive [n = 13 (33%)] and extended oligoarthritis [n = 9 (23%)]. Most were female (80%) with a median age of 15 years [interquartile range (IQR) 12–16] and a median disease duration of 9 years (IQR 5–11). The median improvement in the clinical Juvenile Arthritis Disease Activity Score (cJADAS; three-variable 71-joint JADAS) from RTX start was 9 units (n = 7; IQR −14–2). More than half reported more than one course of RTX. The median time between each course was 219 days (IQR 198–315). During follow-up, 17 (41%) patients reported switching to another biologic, including tocilizumab (n = 8), abatacept (n = 6) and TNF inhibitor (n = 3). Three patients (7%) reported a serious infection on RTX (rate of first serious infection 6.2/100 person-years). Four patients (10%) reported an infusion reaction.ConclusionsThis real-world cohort of children with JIA, the majority with polyarticular or extended oligoarticular JIA, showed RTX may be an effective treatment option for children who do not respond to TNF inhibitor, with a low rate of serious infections on treatment.
Author(s): Kearsley-Fleet L, Sampath S, McCann LJ, Baildam E, Beresford MW, Davies R, De Cock D, Foster HE, Southwood TR, Thomson W, Hyrich KL
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Rheumatology
Year: 2018
Volume: 58
Issue: 2
Pages: 331-335
Print publication date: 01/02/2019
Online publication date: 24/10/2018
Acceptance date: 27/08/2018
Date deposited: 07/01/2019
ISSN (print): 1462-0324
ISSN (electronic): 1462-0332
Publisher: Oxford University Press
URL: https://doi.org/10.1093/rheumatology/key306
DOI: 10.1093/rheumatology/key306
PubMed id: 30358861
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