Alternative Therapy Sparks Hope for Patients with Lupus

The efficacy of Rituxan for lupus conditions is demonstrated by registries as a 1-year study of the European registry points that highlight complete or partial clinical response, in 30 percent and 37 percent respectively, for treatments with Rituxan and CYC, glucocorticoids or MMF in 164 patients.

The more encouraging reports of Rituxan in severe or refractory cases of SLE show that better results were obtained by combining Rituxan with CYC rather than MME, which has led to suggestions that future trials investigate the efficacy and synergy between Rituxan and cyclophosphamide (CYC). Alternatively, relative doses of Rituxan (1000mg within the space of 14 days), excluding the administration of long-term corticosteroids that has been explored.