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Efficacy and safety of rituximab therapy for systemic lupus erythematosus: a systematic review and meta-analysis

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Abstract

Objective

To review the efficacy and safety of rituximab therapy for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Methods

We searched for randomized controlled trails and observational studies that evaluated the effect of rituximab based on the systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity index (SLEDAI), British Isles lupus assessment group index (BILAG), urine protein levels, and the prednisolone dose, and had adequate data to calculate the mean, standard deviation (SD), and 95% confidence intervals, and to systematically review and meta-analyze observational studies with fixed effects model or random effects model.

Results

We included 2 randomized controlled studies and 19 observational clinical studies. We summarized the data from the 19 observational studies, analyzed the heterogeneity of the literature, and then used fixed effect model or random effect model for statistical analysis. The SLEDAI, BILAG, and urine protein levels and the prednisolone dosage were decreased after rituximab treatment, and the decreases in the BILAG, urine protein levels, and the prednisolone dose were found to be significant (P<0.05), when compared with baseline level. Rituximab’s adverse effects generally could be controlled with an effective dosing regimen.

Conclusions

Although there are still controversies about rituximab’s treatment on SLE, but our study had showed that rituximab had favorable effects on refractory lupus. The long-term efficacy and safety of rituximab require further study.

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  1. Department of Kidney Disease Center, the First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310003, China

    Lan Lan, Fei Han & Jiang-hua Chen

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  1. Lan Lan
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  2. Fei Han
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  3. Jiang-hua Chen
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Correspondence to Jiang-hua Chen.

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Lan, L., Han, F. & Chen, Jh. Efficacy and safety of rituximab therapy for systemic lupus erythematosus: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J. Zhejiang Univ. Sci. B 13, 731–744 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1631/jzus.B1200057

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1631/jzus.B1200057

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