A Retrospective Analysis of Rituximab Treatment for B Cell Depletion in Different Pediatric Indications

Autoimmune hepatitis: Towards a personalized treatment

Autoimmune hepatitis is an uncommon condition that affects both adults and children and is characterized by chronic and recurrent inflammatory activity in the liver. This inflammation is accompanied by elevated IgG and autoantibody levels. Historically, treatment consists of steroids with the addition of azathioprine, which results in remission in approximately 80% of patients. Despite significant advancements in our understanding of the immune system over the past two decades, few modifications have been made to treatment algorithms, which have remained largely unchanged since they were first proposed more than 40 years ago. This review summarized the various treatment options currently available as well as our experiences using them. Although steroids are the standard treatment for induction therapy, other medications may be considered. Cyclosporin A, a calcineurin inhibitor that decreases T cell activation, has proven effective for induction of remission, but its long-term side effects limit its appeal for maintenance. Tacrolimus, a drug belonging to the same family, has been used in patients with refractory diseases with fewer side effects. Sirolimus and everolimus have interesting effects on regulatory T cell populations and may become viable options in the future. Mycophenolate mofetil is not effective for induction but is a valid alternative for patients who are intolerant to azathioprine. B cell-depleting drugs, such as rituximab and belimumab, have been successfully used in refractory cases and are useful in both the short and long term. Other promising treatments include anti-tumor necrosis factors, Janus kinases inhibitors, and chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapy. This growing armamentarium allows us to imagine a more tailored approach to the treatment of autoimmune hepatitis in the near future.

B cell depletion for autoimmune liver diseases: A retrospective review of indications and outcomes

Objectives

Pediatric autoimmune hepatitis has an incidence of 0.23/100.000 children in North America, with a bleak prognosis if left untreated. Steroids are the therapy of choice but are not always effective. B cell depletion is a safe and effective therapy that allows for a steroid-sparing protocol, especially in patients who do not tolerate side effects.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed rituximab-treated patients between 2017 and 2022. Demographics, previous treatments, reasons for B cell depletion, response, and adverse effects were noted.

Results

Six patients with a mean age of 10.2 years were included. All patients had comorbidities that rendered treatment with steroids unsuccessful or undesirable. Rituximab was started at a mean follow-up of 8 months. After 6 months, the mean alanine transaminase and aspartate transaminase levels decreased from 575 IU/L and 342 IU/L, respectively, to 28 IU/L (p = 0.02) and 36 IU/L (p = 0.008), respectively. Mean γ-glutamyl transpeptidase decreased from 105 to 25 IU/L (p = 0.01). Immunoglobulin G levels were normalized in all patients (p = 0.01). No severe adverse events were observed. One patient had persistent hypogammaglobulinemia, and another had lymphopenia.

Conclusion

B-cell depletion is an effective and safe treatment for autoimmune liver diseases and should be included as an option, particularly for relapsing patients in whom steroids are undesirable or have shown nonadherence.

A new perspective on therapies involving B-cell depletion in autoimmune diseases

It has been rediscovered in the last fifteen years that B-cells play an active role in autoimmune etiology rather than just being spectators. The clinical success of B-cell depletion therapies (BCDTs) has contributed to this. BCDTs, including those that target CD20, CD19, and BAFF, were first developed to eradicate malignant B-cells. These days, they treat autoimmune conditions like multiple sclerosis and systemic lupus erythematosus. Particular surprises have resulted from the use of BCDTs in autoimmune diseases. For example, even in cases where BCDT is used to treat the condition, its effects on antibody-secreting plasma cells and antibody levels are restricted, even though these cells are regarded to play a detrimental pathogenic role in autoimmune diseases. In this Review, we provide an update on our knowledge of the biology of B-cells, examine the outcomes of clinical studies employing BCDT for autoimmune reasons, talk about potential explanations for the drug's mode of action, and make predictions about future approaches to targeting B-cells other than depletion.

B Cells on the Stage of Inflammation in Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: Leading or Supporting Actors in Disease Pathogenesis?

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is a term that collectively refers to a group of chronic childhood arthritides, which together constitute the most common rheumatic condition in children. The International League of Associations for Rheumatology (ILAR) criteria define seven categories of JIA: oligoarticular, polyarticular rheumatoid factor (RF) negative (RF-), polyarticular RF positive (RF+), systemic, enthesitis-related arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and undifferentiated arthritis. The ILAR classification includes persistent and extended oligoarthritis as subcategories of oligoarticular JIA, but not as distinct categories. JIA is characterized by a chronic inflammatory process affecting the synovia that begins before the age of 16 and persists at least 6 weeks. If not treated, JIA can cause significant disability and loss of quality of life. Treatment of JIA is adjusted according to the severity of the disease as combinations of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), synthetic and/ or biological disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs). Although the disease etiology is unknown, disturbances in innate and adaptive immune responses have been implicated in JIA development. B cells may have important roles in JIA pathogenesis through autoantibody production, antigen presentation, cytokine release and/ or T cell activation. The study of B cells has not been extensively explored in JIA, but evidence from the literature suggests that B cells might have indeed a relevant role in JIA pathophysiology. The detection of autoantibodies such as antinuclear antibodies (ANA), RF and anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPA) in JIA patients supports a breakdown in B cell tolerance. Furthermore, alterations in B cell subpopulations have been documented in peripheral blood and synovial fluid from JIA patients. In fact, altered B cell homeostasis, B cell differentiation and B cell hyperactivity have been described in JIA. Of note, B cell depletion therapy with rituximab has been shown to be an effective and well-tolerated treatment in children with JIA, which further supports B cell intervention in disease development.