Circulating levels of B lymphocyte stimulator in patients with rheumatoid arthritis following rituximab treatment: Relationships with B cell depletion, circulating antibodies, and clinical relapse

Abstract

Objective: To assess the effects of B lymphocyte depletion on serum B lymphocyte stimulator (BLyS; trademark of Human Genome Sciences, Rockville, MD) levels in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and to assess the relationship of serum BLyS levels with peripheral blood B cell depletion, levels of autoantibodies and antimicrobial antibodies, the return of peripheral blood B cells, and clinical relapse. Methods: Fifteen patients with active RA underwent rituximab‐based B cell depletion therapy (BCDT). Disease activity was assessed clinically, peripheral blood CD19+ B cell counts were determined by flow cytometry, and serum levels of BLyS, IgM, IgA, and IgG rheumatoid factors (RFs), anti–cyclic citrullinated peptide, and antimicrobial antibodies were assessed using enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays. Results: Peripheral blood B cell depletion was achieved in all 15 patients, and an American College of Rheumatology 20% response was achieved in 13 patients. Following clinical relapse, 7 patients underwent at least 1 additional cycle of BCDT. In every case, serum BLyS levels markedly rose post‐BCDT and remained elevated for at least 1–2 months. Serum levels of RF, but not those of anti–tetanus toxoid or anti–pneumococcal polysaccharide antibodies, fell significantly. A decline in serum BLyS levels was associated with the reemergence of B cells in peripheral blood, which, in turn, antedated clinical relapse by variable periods of time. The patterns of B cell depletion, serum BLyS and antibody levels, and clinical relapse for each BCDT cycle were remarkably similar in re‐treated patients. Conclusion: Rituximab‐based BCDT leads to marked increases in serum BLyS levels. This may contribute significantly to the survival and/or regeneration of B cell populations capable of triggering clinical relapse.