Beneficial effects of rituximab therapy for systemic lupus erythematosus.

We report an 11-yr-old girl with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with recurrent flares of skin and systemic manifestations, which were poorly controlled with conventional therapy. Treatment with rituximab, a monoclonal antibody against CD20, was associated with remission of symptoms and a steroid sparing effect that persisted for more than 9 months. Therapy with rituximab appears promising in subjects with SLE.