A safety analysis of oral prednisone as a pretreatment for rituximab in rheumatoid arthritis

The administration of 100 mg of methylprednisolone intravenously (IV) 1/2 h prior to rituximab decreases the incidence of acute infusion reactions (AIRs). However, this pretreatment adds considerable time and conveys potential risk. We performed an open-label prospective assessment of oral prednisone as a pretreatment to rituximab. This was a 26-week open-label trial of 40 mg of oral prednisone given 1/2 h prior to rituximab as a prophylaxis against AIRs in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The primary endpoint was AIRs in the first 24 h after their initial infusion. Secondary endpoints include AIRs during the 24 h following their second infusion and any adverse events experienced during the 26-week study; efficacy measures were also followed as secondary endpoints. Sixty-four subjects were screened, and 50 subjects qualified. Fourteen out of the 50 (28 %) subjects had AIRs within 24 h of their first infusion. There were four AIRs (8.3 %) within 24 h of their second infusion. One of day 0 AIRs required drug discontinuation (wheezing/bronchospasm). Forty out of 50 (80 %) subjects experienced an adverse event during the 26 weeks. There were three SAEs deemed not to be study-drug related. The DAS28 and HAQ-DI all improved significantly at weeks 8, 16, and 26 compared to baseline. Historical controls demonstrate that 27 % of RA subjects experience AIRs with their first rituximab infusion. Our data suggest a smaller dose of oral prednisone is an effective alternative to IV methylprednisolone as a pretreatment for rituximab in patients with RA.