Oral glucocorticoid premedication for preventing infusion-related reactions to rituximab in rheumatoid arthritis
Main finding · IRRsResult — go to the resultAdjusted odds ratio 0.61 95% CI 0.30–1.20Authors' conclusion
Oral prednisolone pretreatment to RTX does not result in more infusion-related reactions in patients with RA
Study context
- Population
- Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients receiving rituximab (RTX) infusions, 31 January 2020 to 30 January 2024RTX infusions in 515 patients
- Participants
- 2,253 patients
- Exposure
- 50 mg oral prednisolone vs 50 mg IV methylprednisolone as RTX premedication
- Oraln = 976
- Intravenousn = 1,277reference
- Outcome
- Infusion-related reactions (IRRs) after RTX infusion
Methodological detailsobservational, before-after protocol change (January 2022)
- Observational
- Before-after protocol change (January 2022)
Main finding
IRRs
Adjusted odds ratio
0.61
95% CI 0.30–1.20
Oralvs Intravenous
aOR 0.61 (95% CI 0.30–1.20)
As reported in the abstract
- Infusion-related reactions (IRRs) after all infusions
- 84 infusions (3.7%)
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
IRR risk by RTX dose and concomitant DMARD
- Trend towards lower IRR risk with lower RTX dosing and with concomitant DMARDs
Safety
IRR severity
- IRRs mostly mild, requiring little or no intervention
Original publication
Oral glucocorticoid premedication for preventing infusion-related reactions to rituximab in rheumatoid arthritis. Scand J Rheumatol. Published 23 January 2026. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →