Abstract Number: 1443 • ACR Convergence 2021
Long-term Effectiveness of Ultra-Low Doses of Rituximab in Rheumatoid Arthritis
Background/Purpose: The optimal rituximab (RTX) dose for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis remains unclear. RTX treatment of 1000mg per 6 months and 2000mg per 6…Abstract Number: 1528 • ACR Convergence 2021
Clinical Consequences of Hepatitis B Core Antibody Positivity After IVIG Administration
Background/Purpose: Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) is a blood product created by pooling of donor plasma that is used for a wide range of indications. IVIG is…Abstract Number: 1732 • ACR Convergence 2021
Effects of B Cell Activating Factors/B Lymphocyte Stimulator Inhibitors Added to Standard of Care on Infection in Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Background/Purpose: The efficacy of B cell activator factor/B lymphocyte stimulator inhibitors (BAFFi/BLySi) for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) has been proven in clinical trials. However, it…Abstract Number: 1905 • ACR Convergence 2021
CD11c+ Expression Associates with IFN-λ Responsiveness in Human B Cells with Clinical Implications for SLE
Background/Purpose: Type I interferon (IFN), namely IFN- α, and B cell aberrations are long recognized in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) pathogenesis. Type I IFN receptor…Abstract Number: 0004 • ACR Convergence 2021
Unappreciated Systemic Metabolic Functions of the Canonical B Cell Cytokines, BAFF and APRIL: Regulation of Lipolysis and Non-shivering Thermogenesis and Protection from Obesogenic Diet Induced Weight Gain
Background/Purpose: The impact of immune mediators on weight homeostasis and systemic metabolism remains underdefined. Interrogation of resistance to diet-induced obesity in mice lacking a negative…Abstract Number: 0496 • ACR Convergence 2021
Safety and Efficacy of Rituximab for Systemic Sclerosis: A Double-Blind, Parallel-Group Comparison, Investigators Initiated Confirmatory Randomized Clinical Trial (DESIRES Study)
Background/Purpose: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a systemic autoimmune disease belonging to collagen diseases, characterized by fibrosis of various organs including the skin and lungs, and…Abstract Number: 0648 • ACR Convergence 2021
Improving Post-Rituximab Hypogammaglobulinemia Risk Assessments: A Fellows’ Quality Improvement Initiative
Background/Purpose: Hypogammaglobulinemia following rituximab therapy is a potentially severe complication that can lead to infection-related morbidity and mortality. If recognized, clinicians may prevent infections by…Abstract Number: 0964 • ACR Convergence 2021
Rituximab Treatment Dramatically Reduces Neutralizing Humoral Response to mRNA SARS-COV-2 Vaccines in Patients with Autoimmune Diseases
Background/Purpose: The global COVID-19 pandemic is starting to be controlled by massive vaccination. Some immunosuppressed patients have already paid a high price to the pandemic…Abstract Number: 1391 • ACR Convergence 2021
Rituximab Is Superior to Placebo in Polymyalgia Rheumatica Patients: A Double Blind Randomized Controlled Proof of Principle Trial
Background/Purpose: Corticosteroids remain the cornerstone of polymyalgia rheumatica treatment, but their use has several disadvantages such as long treatment duration and glucocorticoid-related adverse events.1,2 Data…Abstract Number: 0992 • ACR Convergence 2020
Impact of Selective Inhibitors of Nuclear Export on SLE Plasma Cells Is Modulated by the BM Microenvironment
Background/Purpose: Systemic lupus erythematous (SLE) is a complex autoimmune disorder with heterogeneous disease presentation and a multi-pronged pathogenesis. Although autoreactive plasma cells play a key…Abstract Number: 0994 • ACR Convergence 2020
Does Tofacitinib Impact B Cell Functions?
Background/Purpose: Tofacitinib (tofa) inhibits cytokine signaling mediated by JAK1 JAK3 pathways leading therefore to a decrease in Th17 and an increase of Treg cells. The…Abstract Number: 0995 • ACR Convergence 2020
Jo-1-Binding B Cells Undergo Limited Class-Switching but Are Biased Towards Autoreactive-Prone and Memory B Cell Subsets in Anti-histidyl-tRNA Synthetase Syndrome
Background/Purpose: Idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM) are systemic autoimmune diseases traditionally classified as dermatomyositis or polymyositis, but these disorders are increasingly defined by the presence of…Abstract Number: 0997 • ACR Convergence 2020
Novel Shared Antibody Specificities in Ro Antibody Negative Sjögren’s Syndrome
Background/Purpose: Sjögren’s syndrome (SS) is a rheumatic autoimmune disease characterized by focal lymphocytic infiltrates in the lacrimal and salivary glands, severe dry mouth and eyes,…Abstract Number: 1050 • ACR Convergence 2020
Rituximab in the Treatment of Interstitial Lung Disease Associated with Autoimmune Diseases: Experience from a Single Referral Center
Background/Purpose: The presence of interstitial lung disease (ILD) in patients with autoimmune diseases (AD)s influences significantly on their morbidity and mortality [1]. Different treatment strategies…Abstract Number: 1439 • ACR Convergence 2020
Proteinase 3-Reactive B Cell Pool Restructuring After Rituximab and Risk of Relapse in Severe PR3-ANCA-Associated Vasculitis
Background/Purpose: In ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) B cells play a central pathogenic role and are instrumental for the production of ANCA, which are thought to mediate…