Rituximab (RTX) for Disease Modifying Anti Rheumatic Drug (DMARD) Non-responders in Pakistan: The Pakistan Rituximab Study (PARIS)

Enrolled subjects with inadequately-controlled RA had their disease activity level assessed before initiation of therapy and at intervals of 6 months and 12 months thereafter. Standardized disease activity scores like the Disease Activity Score-28 (DAS 28) were used for determining remission or otherwise of the disease. The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) 20, 50 and 70 response scores and the European League of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR) Response Criteria for RA were used to determine the percentage improvement in the individual subject's condition at the same intervals. The former utilizes a set of assessments to determine if, after a given therapy, there has been a 20, 50 or 70% improvement in the aggregate scores as compared to the baseline and the latter utilizes calculated improvements in the DAS 28 score to determine if the response to treatment has been good, moderate or none. Both of these have been validated and approved for use by the ACR and EULAR respectively. The study enrollment period was from 1st January 2010 till 31st December 2010. Observation period was 12 months from the enrollment date for each subject. The final results are being reported here.