Pharmacotherapy of systemic lupus erythematosus: A comparison of lupus disease activity with rituximab and sifalimumab

Abstract

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus is a disease that affects millions worldwide. Research indicates that people suffering from lupus respond well to monoclonal antibody treatment aimed at characteristic immune cell markers. By targeting immune cell markers, the immune system is subsequently suppressed in a way such that lupus disease activity is decreased. Monoclonal antibody treatments targeted towards a variety of immune cell markers have historically been shown to result in decreases in lupus disease activity. Many studies have assessed lupus disease activity with monoclonal antibody treatments, but few have compared different treatments. A systematic review of a study that assessed the lupus disease activity for those taking rituximab was then compared to the findings of another study which assessed the lupus disease activity with those taking sifalimumab. The patients treated with sifalimumab had significantly decreased lupus disease activity when compared with other matched controls. Those who were treated with rituximab had significantly decreased lupus disease activity when compared with other matched controls. However, those who were treated with rituximab had a greater reduction of lupus disease activity as compared to control groups than did those who were treated with sifalimumab. Monoclonal antibody treatments for systemic lupus erythematosus are widespread. It is critical that these treatments are compared in order to find those with the greatest efficacy. For this review, rituximab seemed to have a greater reduction of disease activity than did sifalimumab. Further studies with greater sample sizes assessing multiple other side effects of monoclonal antibody immunosuppression are needed.