S u m m a r y T Th he e a ai im m o of f t th hi is s s st tu ud dy y was to assess the effectiveness and safety of rituximab (RTX) treatment in patients with severe, active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in the years 2007-2012. M Ma at te er ri ia al l a an nd d m me et th ho od ds s: : The study was conducted on 38 adult patients with active RA (DAS28 > 3.2) who were enrolled in the RTX treatment program as a second or third line drug. The primary or secondary ineffectiveness of anti-TNF therapy was observed in those patients. The group consisted of 31 women (81.6%) and 7 men (18.4%). The average age was 54.6 ±11.25 years, and the average duration of RA was 16.3 ±7.9 years. The RTX effectiveness was assessed during 36 months using EULAR criteria. R Re es su ul lt ts s: : At the 6 th , 12 th , 24 th , 30 th and 36 th month of observation a good response to RTX treatment was demonstrated by 18.4%, 30.0%, 21.7%, 64.3% and 88.9% of patients, respectively. At the same time a moderate response was found in 73.7%, 53.3%, 60.9%, 14.3% and 0.0% and no response in 7.9%, 16.7%, 17.4%, 21.4% and 11.1% of patients, respectively. There were 2 non-responders (5.3%) to the initial treatment with RTX. We observed secondary ineffectiveness of RTX therapy in 10 patients (26.3%). During the course of RTX treatment the number of patients receiving oral corticosteroids was reduced from 34 (89.5%) to 16 (42.1%) (p < 0.001). In the remaining patients the mean dose of corticosteroids was lowered by 23.8%. The following adverse effects during RTX infusion were recorded in 3 (7.9%) patients: Quincke's edema, hypotonia and itching of the skin. Infections were observed in 5 (13.1%) of the treated patients. C Co on nc cl lu us si io on ns s: : RTX treatment is a safe and effective form of therapy in patients with active, long-term RA previously treated with various DMARDs.

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