Purpose: Rituximab is widely prescribed to treat systemic sclerosis (SSc) by the depletion of pathogenic B cells. Nonetheless, the clinical benefit of Rituximab in SSc remains contentious. This meta-analysis was conducted to systematically evaluate the safety and efficacy profile of Rituximab in SSc patients.
Patients and methods: We performed a systematic online query in PubMed, Cochrane, and Web of Science. The available studies on the use of Rituximab in SSc patients were comprehensively reviewed and investigated.
Results: In total, 14 studies, including 597 participants, were analyzed. Pooled results showed the long-term improvement in the modified Rodnan skin score (mRSS) for skin function (ΔmRSS: 7.00 at 6 months, 9.70 at 12 months, and 10.93 at 24 months), while forced vital capacity (FVC) (ΔFVC: -0.69 at 6 months, -2.62 at 12 months, and -0.67 at 24 months) and diffusing capacity of the lungs for carbon monoxide (DLCO) (ΔDLCO: -2.39 at 6 months, -3.28 at 12 months, and -0.79 at 24 months) for lung function remained stable in SSc patients after Rituximab treatment. The rate of Rituximab-related adverse events was 12% in the pooled results.
Conclusion: The pooled results of this meta-analysis indicated that Rituximab is well tolerated, and it is able to improve cutaneous function and stabilize pulmonary function in SSc patients.
Keywords: Lung fibrosis; Rituximab; SSc; Skin fibrosis.
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