Table 2.
Changes of clinical parameters of the disease during RTX (n = 88)
| Parameters | Before RTX therapy | During RTX therapy | р |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rodnan skin score, M ± σ | 11.21 ± 9.33 | 6.19 ± 4.74 | 0.001 |
| Activity index (EScSG-AI), M ± σ | 2.9 ± 1.74 | 1.36 ± 1.15 | 0.001 |
| FCV (% predicted), M ± σ | 76.35 ± 19.65 | 84.37 ± 21.04 | 0.001 |
| DLCO (% predicted), M ± σ | 45.56 ± 17.72 | 47.62 ± 16.96 | 0.019 |
| B-lymphocytes (absolute count) (×109/L), M ± σ | 0.224 ± 0.19 | 0.0175 ± 0.058 | 0.001 |
| Prednisolone (mg/day), M ± σ | 11.7 ± 4.4 | 9.2 ± 3.2 | 0.001 |
RTX, rituximab; FVC, forced vital capacity % predicted; DLCO, diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide % predicted.