Genome-wide transcription analysis of whole blood prior to rituximab treatment in relation to clinical response. Homo sapiens

B cell depletion therapy is efficacious in RA patients failing on TNF blocking agents. However, approximately 40-50% of the rituximab-treated RA patients have a poor response. We investigated wheter baseline gene expression levels can discriminate between clinical nonresponders and responders to rituximab Overall design: Whole blood total RNA is isolated from PAXgene tubes obtained prior to start of rituximab treatment