[PubMed] [Google Scholar] 2. was a clinical complete response, two partial and one absent. In the renal and hematological group complete response, there was one death and a missing response. The pulmonary group presented a complete response and two partial. Conclusion: The present study demonstrated that rituximab can bring benefits to patients with lupus erythematosus systemic, with good tolerability and mild side effects; it presented, however, variable response according to the system affected. in Vitria (ES). Inclusion criteria used for the selection of the sample were to present with SLE with the diagnosis confirmed as per the criteria of the American College of Rheumatology,1997;(8) an absence or inefficiency of the clinical response to previously used medications to treat SLE; Elvucitabine present with adverse events related to the medications previously used, age between 18 and 60 years, under treatment with RTX. Individuals were classified according to the medical picture that motivated the use of the immunobiological agent, with the formation of the following organizations: renal, hematological, osteoarticular, and pulmonary. However, some individuals simultaneously fit into more than one group. Treatment was performed by giving the individuals 1g doses of RTX, with repetition of the infusion having a 15 day time interval. Data were collected by means of patient chart review, using a data collection cards that grouped them at times 0,30, 60, and 90 days after the 1st infusion. The dependent variables were hemoglobin, leukocytes, platelets, creatinine, urea, and 24 hour proteinuria. Indie variables were gender, age, and skin color. Total medical response was defined as normalization of the medical and laboratorial guidelines. The partial response was defined as an improvement in guidelines when they were compared to the initial time, without, however, reaching normality. The absent response was identified when there was no improvement of the patient’s medical picture, worsening, or death after the treatment suggested. The analysis algorithm of the data was directed by descriptive statistics, using distribution of rate of recurrence and measurements of central inclination, such as medians. All variables were analyzed by means of Excel Term 2010, on a standardized spreadsheet. The project experienced the support of the National Council of Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq, CAAE: 0027.0.126.000-08). RESULTS The study sample experienced the participation of 17 individuals, 15 of them females. Mean age of individuals was 36.21 years, with a standard deviation of 10.77 and a median of 34.5. The rate of recurrence for each group of medical problems was three individuals with pulmonary involvement, two osteoarticular, five hematologic, four renal, and three with association of hematologic and renal involvement. Response to RTX, relating to organ/system affected, is demonstrated on chart 1. Chart 1 Organizations ordered relating to organ/system and response to rituximab 1.31g post-treatment; p=0.006), serum albumin (2.8g at baseline 3.6g post-treatment; p 0.001), and proteinuria/creatinuria percentage (of 421.94g at baseline/mmol to 234.98g of baseline/mmol post-treatment; p 0.001). A significant improvement of response was found in individuals with type III lupusnephritis compared with types IV and V (p=0.007 and 0.03, respectively). Nephrotic syndrome and renal insufficiency, at the time of RTX administration, expected a worse response (p=0.001 FLJ11071 and 0.024, respectively). In this study, RTX proved an effective option for individuals with lupus nephritis, especially those refractive to standard treatment or that experienced a new crisis after rigorous immunosuppressant treatment.(28) In a recent editorial, Scheinberg discusses the controversy between the results obtained by randomized studies as to the use of RTX in lupus and medical practice, suggesting that, instead of a failure of medication, it could be due to a flaw in protocol design. He pointed Elvucitabine out that heterogeneity of forms of demonstration of SLE, its gravity, and the influence of ethnicity prevent the description of medical Elvucitabine studies, therefore impeding the viability of studies with larger samples and statistical significance for fresh therapies. Additionally,.