Efficacy of rituximab on disease activity, severity, and disease-related damage in patients with immunosuppressive-resistant systemic sclerosis.

RTX contributed to reducing the activity and severity in SSc patients with severe disease, nonetheless the efficacy related to the damage was limited. High damage scores in the first year were found to be associated with mortality. Spontaneous progress of manifestations requiring a longer period to improve and irregular consecutive RTX courses might lead to difficulties in differentiation between activity and damage.