Vol. 8, Issue 4 (2019)

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is chronic inflammatory systemic disease that affect synovial membrane of peripheral joints leading to loss of daily function because of pain and fatigue. Rituximab is one of biologic agents used for RA. Its a chimeric monoclonal antibody directed against CD20 protein on the B cell surface used for treatment of sever active form of disease. Its control the disease activity with few side effects. The effects of Rituximab on blood values (like ESR, ACPA,RF, Hb, WBC, SGOT, SGPT, S cr, blood urea) were demonstrated in this study on 65 RA patients receiving RTX in the Rheumatology ward in Baghdad Teaching Hospital between June2015 and January 2017. All of them diagnosed according to ACR criteria 2010 and had severely active disease. All patients were received four doses of RTX over 6 months and blood sample were taken at each visit

Results: Data analysis shows significant improvement in the Hb level (P value = 0.005) and significant decreasing in ESR (p value = 0.005) and ACPA (p value = 0.005).There is no significant changes in the other parameters.

1. The use of RTX for 6 ms decreases the disease activity by decreasing ESR and ACPA

2. The use of RTX for 6 ms elevates the Hb level significantly.

3. There is no effect of the RTX therapy on the other blood tests (WBC, renal function test, liver function test) in RA patients.