Rheumatoid Arthritis News

The efficacy of rituximab, a monoclonal antibody directed against CD20 positive B cells, has been demonstrated for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in a number of key studies. However, not all patients respond to therapy. Whether patients with initial non-response may benefit from follow-up treatments (i.e. initial treatment resistance) has not been investigated.

Antibodies against citrullinated proteins have emerged as powerful diagnostic and prognostic tools in RA that may contribute to the initiation phases of the disease. The enzymes that catalyze the citrullination process, known as peptidyl argenine deiminases (or PADs), may also be involved in the initiation and propagation steps of the RA disease process. Additionally, autoimmunity to these catalysts may identify a subset of RA patients with unique disease phenotypes.