Profile of Rituximab Responders

[markt]

I thought it would be interesting to capture a snapshot of folks on here who have responded favorably to Rituximab in the past (to get a non-scientific general idea for folks considering it). 

By that I mean, did it help or not and then simply note your bloodwork (or clinical picture / presentation of Sjogrens).

Me myself, I had a marked improvement in oral dryness, and thickness of saliva.  I also had improved skin texture and eyelid MGD lessened (my lashes looked normal).  I could not tell that there was a subjective improvement in ocular dryness.  I began a regimen that is 2 in infusions, 04 months apart.  I was diagnosed and treated with RTX only 5 months after symptom onset, as my initial intro to Sjogrens was swift and the immune response was captured in my serum samples.  I have had no flares since... dryness does increase a bit between infusions so far.  No arthralgia, fatigue, or brain fog issues.

I fall squarely into the patient profile described in paragraph 5 (Predictors of response to rituximab):   https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1521661617301742

32 Yr Old Male, highly positive for SP-1 and CA-6 antibodies (hence the positive ANA), slightly elevated TPO antibodies, Slight RF / anti-CCP positivity, low blood compliment C4,  elevated serum IgG, low IFN activity, etc.  I also had a lower focus score (0.37) and a lower salivary gland ultrasonography grades (no ectopic lymphocyte lesions).