Background: B cells play a key role in the pathogenesis of various rheumatic autoimmune diseases and have therefore become an important therapeutic target. Rituximab is a chimeric monoclonal anti-CD20 antibody that induces a nearly complete, transient depletion of peripheral CD20-positive B cells. In 2006 rituximab received approval for use in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and in 2013 for patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) and microscopic polyangiitis (MPA).
Objectives: In this review various clinically relevant aspects of B cell therapy in RA patients are discussed, including its role in the therapeutic algorithm as well as data on long-term efficacy and safety.