A NEW study has highlighted both the benefits and limitations of on-flare retreatment with rituximab in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), drawing on more than a decade of real-world data. Conducted at a tertiary university hospital between 2006 and 2019, the retrospective analysis followed 104 patients—most of whom were seropositive—over a median period of 40 months.
Rituximab, a B-cell depleting therapy, was administered based on disease flare-ups, with retreatment guided by a DAS28 score of 3.2 or higher, aligning with national reimbursement criteria. While the retention rate was high—with 94% of patients still receiving the therapy after three years—the study found a pattern of disease activity spikes prior to each treatment cycle. These fluctuations were mirrored by changes in patient-reported outcomes and overall wellbeing.
Although only 9% of patients discontinued the drug and 14% received reduced doses, the study raises questions about the impact of flare-based dosing on quality of life. Researchers call for further investigation into retreatment schedules that minimize disease fluctuation without compromising efficacy.
These findings underscore the importance of balancing long-term disease control with patient experience in real-world rheumatology care.
Reference
Bertrand D et al. Effectiveness and patient-reported impact of on-flare retreatment in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: insights from retrospective long-term real-world data. BMC Rheumatol. 2025;DOI: 10.1186/s41927-025-00530-x.
