Rituximab is a drug which is regularly used to treat various conditions, including arthritis and cancer, but it may have previously untapped possibilities. New research has shown that it may also help people who have antiphospholipid antibodies and a condition such as heart or kidney disease.
Researchers into rheumatology at the Hospital for Special Surgery have conducted the research, which has just been published online and in the Arthritis and Rheumatism journal.
The study, which aims to increase the wellness of aPL-positive patients, analysed the role of the drug Rituximab on their conditions. It is already known that aPLs increase the production of some types of proteins which tend to cause inflammation in the human body, and form clots. These clots can be very dangerous and can lead to deep vein thrombosis, arterial thrombosis and also cause miscarriage. Patients can also have a low platelet count, heart disease, kidney disease, skin ulcers and memory problems, seriously compromising wellbeing.
Previous tests have been done on mice, which show that B Cells are the ones responsible for secreting the aPLS which cause the problems, and that eliminating these B Cells is what is needed in order to prevent the development of serious health conditions. The drug, Rituximab, does just that.
Pilot trials are currently underway to test the drug on aPL-positive parents with these additional conditions, with doses of the drug being given and the outcomes being measured on a regular basis. Results from this trial have been massively encouraging in certain areas, particularly in the patients with cognitive disfunction, thrombocytopenia and skin ulcers, although there was no noticable response from the patients with cardiac valve disease.
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