Fatmata Wanda Kamara
Sjögren’s syndrome is an autoimmune rheumatic disease with a heterogeneous clinical presentation of sicca symptoms and systemic manifestations. Current treatment options are primarily symptomatic, which contributes to the complicated self-management regimes and reduced quality of life. The anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody, rituximab, has recently been investigated as a viable therapeutic agent. The rationale stems from the evident role of B-cell hyperactivity in the formation of exocrine gland infiltrations and serum autoantibody markers. This review evaluated prospective clinical studies acquired from PubMed/Medline databases to determine the efficacy of rituximab. There is conflicting evidence regarding the validity and sensitivity of the outcome measures utilised. Inter-trial comparisons were limited by the variability of disease characteristics, differences in study designs, and focus on patients with active primary Sjögren’s syndrome. Rituximab was found to have beneficial biological effects in both salivary glands and peripheral blood. It consistently decreased lymphoid inflammatory organisation, B-cell counts, and immunoglobulin concentrations. Its clinical efficacy, on the other hand, remains elusive. Measures of lacrimal and salivary gland function, as well as sicca symptoms, yielded contradictory results. Nevertheless, rituximab may be effective if administered based on individual contexts of disease activity and systemic involvement.