Clinical Study

Multicenter Retrospective Analysis of the Effectiveness and Safety of Rituximab in Korean Patients with Refractory Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Table 1

Characteristics of the 39 SLE patients receiving rituximab.

Age, mean ± SD years
Female, % 92.1
Disease duration, mean ± SD years
Major organ involved, % ( )
 Nephritis43.6 (17)
 Hematologic 33.3 (13)
 Arthritis7.8 (3)
 Myositis7.8 (3)
 Vasculitis5.1 (2)
 Enteritis2.6 (1)
Disease activity before rituximab
 SLEDAI score, mean ± SD years
 Anti-DNA antibody, % ( )48.7 (19)
 C3, mean ± SD g/dL
 C4, mean ± SD g/dL
Rituximab administration, % ( )
 500 mg × 2 infusions59.0 (23)
 1000 mg × 2 infusions10.3 (4)
 375 mg/m2  × 4 infusions12.8 (5)
 500 mg × 1 infusion7.7 (3)
 Other regimen10.2 (4)

Previous immunosuppressive agents, % ( )
 Mycophenolate mofetil48.7 (19)
 Cyclophosphamide43.6 (17)
 Azathioprine33.3 (13)
 Cyclosporine23.1 (9)
 IV immunoglobulin17.9 (7)
 Methotrexate7.7 (3)
 Tacrolimus2.6 (1)
 TNF blocker2.6 (1)
 Others5.1 (2)
 Number of immunosuppressive agents, mean ± SD
Rituximab-concomitant immunosuppressive agents, % ( )
 Glucocorticoids87.2 (34)
  Dosage, mean ± SD mg/day
 Hydroxychloroquine84.6 (33)
 Azathioprine59.0 (23)
 Cyclosporine 28.2 (11)
 Mycophenolate mofetil23.1 (9)
 Cyclophosphamide2.6 (1)
 Number of immunosuppressive agents, mean ± SD

*Values are % (number) of patients. SLEDAI: systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity index.