Circulating levels of B lymphocyte stimulator in patients with rheumatoid arthritis following rituximab treatment: Relationships with B cell depletion, circulating antibodies, and clinical relapse
Open Access
- 28 February 2006
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Wiley in Arthritis & Rheumatism
- Vol. 54 (3), 723-732
- https://doi.org/10.1002/art.21650
Abstract
Objective To assess the effects of B lymphocyte depletion on serum B lymphocyte stimulator (BLyS; trademark of Human Genome Sciences, Rockville, MD) levels in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and to assess the relationship of serum BLyS levels with peripheral blood B cell depletion, levels of autoantibodies and antimicrobial antibodies, the return of peripheral blood B cells, and clinical relapse. Methods Fifteen patients with active RA underwent rituximab-based B cell depletion therapy (BCDT). Disease activity was assessed clinically, peripheral blood CD19+ B cell counts were determined by flow cytometry, and serum levels of BLyS, IgM, IgA, and IgG rheumatoid factors (RFs), anti–cyclic citrullinated peptide, and antimicrobial antibodies were assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Results Peripheral blood B cell depletion was achieved in all 15 patients, and an American College of Rheumatology 20% response was achieved in 13 patients. Following clinical relapse, 7 patients underwent at least 1 additional cycle of BCDT. In every case, serum BLyS levels markedly rose post-BCDT and remained elevated for at least 1–2 months. Serum levels of RF, but not those of anti–tetanus toxoid or anti–pneumococcal polysaccharide antibodies, fell significantly. A decline in serum BLyS levels was associated with the reemergence of B cells in peripheral blood, which, in turn, antedated clinical relapse by variable periods of time. The patterns of B cell depletion, serum BLyS and antibody levels, and clinical relapse for each BCDT cycle were remarkably similar in re-treated patients. Conclusion Rituximab-based BCDT leads to marked increases in serum BLyS levels. This may contribute significantly to the survival and/or regeneration of B cell populations capable of triggering clinical relapse.Keywords
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