Rituximab and other anti-B-cell agents in immune-mediated inflammatory rheumatic diseases

Disorders of B cell immune tolerance play a central role in thepathogenesis of immune-mediated inflammatory rheumaticdiseases. Anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies (rituximab) andother anti-B cell medications, which induce depletion of B cellsand modulate their function, are effective in the wide range ofinflammatory rheumatic diseases. Further studies of anti-Bcell therapy and identifying the novel targets will improve theefficacy of treatment of immune-mediated rheumatic dis-eases.

Key words

Immune-mediated inflammatory rheumaticdiseases, B cells, rituximab, belimumab.