B cell repopulation kinetics after rituximab treatment in ANCA-associated vasculitides compared to rheumatoid arthritis, and connective tissue diseases: a longitudinal observational study on 120 patients

In contrast to RA and CTD, in AAV RTX induces long-lasting depletion of B cells that is associated with decreased antibody production. This observation points toward potential defects in the B cell compartment in AAV that are unmasked by immunosuppressive treatment and has important implications for the design of maintenance treatment schedules using RTX.