Background Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by synovial hyperplasia, mononuclear cell infiltration, bone erosion and joint destruction. Antirheumatic treatment plays a important role in controlling the inflammation of rheumatoid arthritis and in minimizing joint damage. Rituximab - it is a chimeric monoclonal antibody that targets the CD20 molecule expressed on the surface of B cells. It has been successfully used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, and it is worth noting that his antidestructive effect sometimes does not meet the clinical.

Objectives to assess clinical and antidestructive effect of Rituximab (RTX) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods 108 patients (pts) with RA, most of them were middle-age women with high disease activity (mean DAS28 6,1±1,04, RF-positive 77%, ACCP-positive 83%) treated with RTX (1000 mgx2 or 500 mgx2). Clinical effect was evaluated by EULAR criteria; radiological progression by SVH method.

Results 104 patients were treated by RTX (500 x2 or 1000 x2), had good response: after 48 week of treatment clinical improvement was achieved in 65% pts, good and moderate response by EULAR criteria in 23% and 42% pts accordingly. Noteworthy, after 12 months of treatment RTX radiological progression was absent in 50% pts with high disease activity.

Conclusions RTX treatment slowed joint damage without clinical improvement. Clinical and antidestructive results did not always coincide which suggests different mechanisms of clinical and antidestructive effects of anti-B-cell therapy

Disclosure of Interest None declared