Understanding Rituximab Treatment in Lupus: A Look Inside Immune Cells
Image credit: https://grok.com/ Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), often simply called lupus, is a chronic autoimmune disease that can cause inflammation and damage in many parts of the body, like the skin, kidneys, and joints. In lupus, the immune system becomes dysregulated, particularly B cells, which mistakenly produce antibodies against the body's own tissues. Historically, treating lupus involved broad medications that suppress the whole immune system, often leading to significant side effects. Fortunately, advancements in understanding lupus have led to more targeted therapies. One such therapy is rituximab , a treatment that targets and removes CD20+ B cells. Rituximab is frequently used for lupus, even though it hasn't always met its goals in clinical trials. While it's thought to work by reducing autoantibody production and inflammatory signals, scientists still don't fully understand exactly how it provides symptom relief or why some patients respond we...