Rheumatoid arthritis (refractory) - rituximab

Summary

Rituximab, when given together with methotrexate (another drug used to treat rheumatoid arthritis), is recommended as a possible treatment for adults with severe active rheumatoid arthritis only if:

• the person has already tried drugs known as disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs to treat their rheumatoid arthritis, one of which must have been an ‘anti-TNF’ drug, but these haven’t worked or weren’t suitable
• it clearly improves the person’s condition, and doesn’t need to be given more often than every 6 months
• treatment is supervised by an experienced doctor who specialises in rheumatoid arthritis.

Documents

For healthcare professionals

• TA126 Rheumatoid arthritis (refractory) - rituximab: quick reference guide
• TA126 Rheumatoid arthritis (refractory) - rituximab: full guidance (MS Word format)
• TA126 Rheumatoid arthritis (refractory) - rituximab: full guidance

For patients, carers and the public

• TA126 Rheumatoid arthritis (refractory) - rituximab: understanding NICE guidance (MS Word format)
• TA126 Rheumatoid arthritis (refractory) - rituximab: understanding NICE guidance

Background information

• 2007/044 NICE appraisal of rituximab and adalimumab for the treatment of arthritis

Implementing this guidance

Any further information NICE has produced to help the NHS implement this guideline locally is linked to below:

• Rheumatoid arthritis (refractory) - rituximab: audit support
• Rheumatoid arthritis (refractory) - rituximab: costing report and template