CD20‐depleting therapy in autoimmune diseases: from basic research to the clinic

Perosa F, Prete M, Racanelli V, Dammacco F (University of Bari Medical School, Bari, Italy). CD20‐depleting therapy in autoimmune diseases: from basic research to the clinic (Review). J Intern Med 2010; 267 : 260–277. The B lymphocyte‐associated antigen CD20 is becoming an important immunotherapy target for autoimmune diseases, although its biological function has not been defined. Besides rheumatoid arthritis, growing experience with B cell‐depleting therapy indicates that it may be effective in Sjögren’s syndrome, dermatomyositis–polymyositis, systemic lupus erythematosus and some types of vasculitides. However, controlled clinical trials are still lacking for some of these indications. Infection has not been seen as a major limitation to this therapy, but reports of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy in an extremely small number of patients are of concern. Here, we review the therapeutic actions of anti‐CD20 antibodies, and the recent and ongoing clinical trials with CD20‐depleting therapy in autoimmune diseases.