{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,24]],"date-time":"2026-04-24T15:59:34Z","timestamp":1777046374864,"version":"3.51.4"},"reference-count":17,"publisher":"Oxford University Press (OUP)","issue":"5","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,15]],"date-time":"2025-09-15T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1757894400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/academic.oup.com\/pages\/standard-publication-reuse-rights"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":[],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,24]]},"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Background<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Rituximab is effective in both systemic sclerosis (SSc)-associated interstitial lung disease (ILD) and cutaneous sclerosis. However, most studies report improvement in skin sclerosis as a secondary outcome, leaving a gap in the literature on rituximab\u2019s dermatological impact.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Objectives<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>To evaluate rituximab\u2019s effectiveness in reducing skin sclerosis.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>This retrospective study was conducted at a tertiary care centre in northern India. Records of patients with SSc from 2016 to 2023 were reviewed. Clinical assessments, investigations and standard treatment for end-organ damage were undertaken according to clinical presentation and the European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology guidelines. Rituximab was administered in two doses of 1\u2005g each, administered 2 weeks apart to patients with a baseline modified Rodnan skin score (mRSS) of \u2265 14 with or without ILD or a baseline mRSS of \u2265 7 and &amp;lt; 14 in the presence of ILD, as per a departmental protocol. Patients were divided into two groups: those receiving rituximab (the rituximab group) and patients who were not treated with rituximab (the non-rituximab group). Treatment response was evaluated based on change in mRSS and overall survival.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Among 98 patients with SSc, 37 received rituximab and 61 were in the non-rituximab group. The rituximab group had a higher percentage of patients with diffuse skin sclerosis (DSS) [70% (26\/37) vs. 30% (18\/61)] and a higher mean baseline mRSS [20.1 (SD 9.4) vs. 11.5 (SD 8.0)]. There was a significantly greater mean percentage reduction in mRSS [47.9% (SD 27.4) vs. 31.2% (SD 31.4), P = 0.01] in the rituximab group compared with the non-rituximab group. Overall survival (Kaplan\u2013Meier curve analysis) was 66% at 140\u2005months in the rituximab group compared with 53% at 95\u2005months in the non-rituximab group (P = 0.85). Patients with limited skin sclerosis (LSS) had better survival (78% at 100\u2005months) compared with those with DSS (47% at 140\u2005months, P = 0.05). On binomial logistic regression analysis, a greater percentage reduction in mRSS was the strongest predictor of survival (P = 0.04).<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusions<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Rituximab treatment resulted in a significant reduction in skin sclerosis even in patients with more severe baseline skin sclerosis, although it did not demonstrate any survival benefit.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1093\/ced\/llaf420","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,13]],"date-time":"2025-09-13T11:42:03Z","timestamp":1757763723000},"page":"846-852","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Treatment with rituximab is associated with significantly improved cutaneous sclerosis: real-world observations in an Indian cohort"],"prefix":"10.1093","volume":"51","author":[{"given":"Sanjeev","family":"Handa","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Dermatology, Venereology, and Leprology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research , Chandigarh ,","place":["India"]}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Anubha","family":"Dev","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Dermatology, Venereology, and Leprology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research , Chandigarh ,","place":["India"]}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1165-1103","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Anuradha","family":"Bishnoi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Dermatology, Venereology, and Leprology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research , Chandigarh ,","place":["India"]}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8682-2598","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Dipankar","family":"De","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Dermatology, Venereology, and Leprology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research , Chandigarh ,","place":["India"]}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-4320-3193","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Rahul","family":"Mahajan","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Dermatology, Venereology, and Leprology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research , Chandigarh 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