How Does Rituxan Work?

According to rheumatology.org, Rituximab is used to treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA) that has not gotten better with other types of treatments. Rituxan is usually given as two intravenous infusions, the second one fifteen days after the first. This is usually repeated at six month intervals. Rituxan works by turning off a part of the immune system that is not working properly in autoimmune diseases such as RA.

As I understand it, Rituxan is not actually chemotherapy. It is a type of antibody therapy that can be used alone or with chemotherapy. Rituxan is a cancer medication that interferes with the growth and spread of cancer cells in the body. In addition to treating RA, Rituxan is used to treat non-Hodgkin's lymphoma or chronic lymphocytic leukemia. I read an article recently that mentioned Rituxan is also in the process of being approved to treat MS.

Rituximab targets a protein on B cells, which are part of our immune system. These B cells produce antibodies, which are proteins that allow the body to remove infectious or other dangerous particles. B cells also produce chemicals that help other parts of the immune system do their jobs.

People with RA make B cells that do not work the way they should. These abnormal B cells do not interact properly with other parts of the immune system. This autoimmune response attacks a person’s own body even if there is no infection. Autoimmune responses can result in a number of different symptoms, such as inflammation of the joints (arthritis), with symptoms of joint pain, swelling and stiffness. By temporarily removing the harmful B cells, Rituximab can help control the arthritis, and can help control inflammation.

Well, there you have it.  I think I get the basics of Rituxan after translating all of the million-dollar words and scientific terms. 

Fingers crossed that Rituxan will be a good biologic for me.

Here’s hoping for another good day!

Susan

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