Rituximab (Rituxan) appears to be both effective and safe for patients with refractory systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), an open, observational study based on physician-reported outcomes suggested. Overall clinical response was seen in 71% of SLE patients enrolled in the French AutoImmunity and Rituximab (AIR) registry, with the mean disease activity score falling from 10.8 to 3.4 (P<0.0001), according to Benjamin Terrier, MD, of Bicêtre Hospital in Paris, and colleagues.
