{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,30]],"date-time":"2026-10-30T00:02:34Z","timestamp":1793318554199,"version":"4.5.0"},"reference-count":40,"publisher":"Wiley","issue":"11","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2023,9,7]],"date-time":"2023-09-07T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1694044800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-nd\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100001659","name":"Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["Project 431984000\u2013CRC 1453 Nephrogenetics"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["Project 431984000\u2013CRC 1453 Nephrogenetics"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100001659","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":["acrjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Arthritis &amp; Rheumatology"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2023,11]]},"abstract":"<jats:sec><jats:title>Objective<\/jats:title><jats:p>B\u2010cell depletion using the anti\u2010CD20 monoclonal antibody rituximab is a cornerstone in the therapeutic concept of multiple autoimmune diseases. B\u2010cell depletion is associated with a higher risk for severe infections, and the time span of B\u2010cell repopulation differs greatly between individuals. Data on factors influencing B\u2010cell repopulation kinetics are limited. This study aims to identify patient\u2010specific and therapy\u2010associated covariates that modulate B\u2010cell repopulation.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title><jats:p>This single\u2010center retrospective observational study presents data of 839 subjects receiving 2,017 courses of rituximab for autoimmune diseases. Assessed covariates are patient\u2010specific factors (sex, age, kidney function, and underlying disease) and co\u2010immunosuppression with common agents (azathioprine, cyclosporine A, cyclophosphamide, hydroxychloroquine, methotrexate, mycophenolate mofetil, tacrolimus, and corticosteroids). The primary end point is the time to B\u2010cell repopulation (\u22655\/\u03bcl). The secondary end point is the time to B\u2010cell reconstitution (\u226550\/\u03bcl). Multivariate time\u2010to\u2010event analysis and logistic regression models were applied to estimate the influence of covariates.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results<\/jats:title><jats:p>Age over 60\u2009years (hazard ratio [HR] 0.71 for repopulation, <jats:italic>P<\/jats:italic> =\u20090.008), impaired kidney function (HR 0.72, <jats:italic>P<\/jats:italic> =\u20090.001), antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody\u2010associated vasculitis (HR 0.61, <jats:italic>P<\/jats:italic> &lt;\u20090.001), solid organ transplantation (HR 0.4, <jats:italic>P<\/jats:italic> &lt;\u20090.001), and co\u2010immunosuppression with corticosteroids (HR 0.64, <jats:italic>P<\/jats:italic> &lt;\u20090.001) or azathioprine (HR 0.49, <jats:italic>P<\/jats:italic> &lt;\u20090.001) were associated with impaired B\u2010cell repopulation and reconstitution. Effects of corticosteroids (<jats:italic>P<\/jats:italic> =\u20090.043) and azathioprine (<jats:italic>P<\/jats:italic> =\u20090.025) were dose dependent.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title><jats:p>Prolonged rituximab dosing intervals may be effective to achieve B\u2010cell depletion and reduce risk of infection in advanced age or patients with impaired kidney function. Co\u2010medication with corticosteroids or azathioprine prolongs B\u2010cell recovery, which may increase therapeutic effects but also the rate of adverse events.<\/jats:p><jats:p><jats:boxed-text content-type=\"graphic\" position=\"anchor\"><jats:graphic xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" mimetype=\"image\/png\" position=\"anchor\" specific-use=\"enlarged-web-image\" xlink:href=\"graphic\/art42625-toc-0001-m.png\"><jats:alt-text>image<\/jats:alt-text><\/jats:graphic><\/jats:boxed-text><\/jats:p><\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1002\/art.42625","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2023,6,7]],"date-time":"2023-06-07T01:40:43Z","timestamp":1686102043000},"page":"2045-2053","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":18,"title":["Identification of Covariates Modulating <scp>B\u2010Cell<\/scp> Repopulation Kinetics in Subjects Receiving Rituximab Treatment"],"prefix":"10.1002","volume":"75","author":[{"given":"Thomas","family":"Welte","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Medicine IV, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine University of Freiburg  Freiburg Germany"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Lukas","family":"Westermann","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Medicine IV, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine University of Freiburg  Freiburg Germany"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Julia","family":"Kappes","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Pneumology, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine University of Freiburg  Freiburg Germany"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3513-3842","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Markus A.","family":"Schramm","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine University of Freiburg  Freiburg Germany"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Xavier","family":"Bemtgen","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Medicine III (Interdisciplinary Medical Intensive Care), Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, and Department of Cardiology and Angiology I, Heart Center, Faculty of Medicine University of Freiburg  Freiburg Germany"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Dawid L.","family":"Staudacher","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Medicine III (Interdisciplinary Medical Intensive Care), Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, and Department of Cardiology and Angiology I, Heart Center, Faculty of Medicine University of Freiburg  Freiburg Germany"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Martin 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