Maurizio Benucci

Publications (83) View all

• Source

  Available from: Lorenzo Cavagna

  Article: The 158VV Fcgamma receptor 3A genotype is associated with response to rituximab in rheumatoid arthritis: results of an Italian multicentre study

  Luca Quartuccio, Martina Fabris, Elena Pontarini, Sara Salvin, Alen Zabotti, Maurizio Benucci, Mariangela Manfredi, Domenico Biasi, Viviana Ravagnani, Fabio Fischetti, [......], Franco Schiavon, Valeria Carraro, Angelo Semeraro, Roberto Caporali, Lorenzo Cavagna, Roberto Bortolotti, Giuseppe Paolazzi, Marcello Govoni, Stefano Bombardieri, Salvatore De Vita
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  ABSTRACT: ABSTRACT Objective The polymorphism 158V/F of Fc fragment of IgG (FCGR) type 3A may influence the response to rituximab (RTX) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We investigated the FCG3A polymorphism in a large cohort of RA patients treated with RTX, also by considering the possible loss of response from month +4 to +6 after RTX and the presence of established predictors of response. Methods The study analysed 212 RA patients. European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) response was evaluated at months +4 and +6 after the first RTX infusion. The FCGR3A polymorphism was analysed by PCR followed by Sanger sequencing. Results The FCGR3A genotypes were associated with EULAR response (good or moderate) at month +6 (response in 34/38 (89.5%) VV vs 70/106 (66%) VF and in 51/77 (66.2%) FF patients; p=0.01), but not at month +4 (response in 32/37 (86.5%) VV vs 69/102 (67.6%) VF and 53/73 (72.6%) FF patients; p=0.09). Loss of response was observed only in VF and FF carriers ((VV vs VF vs FF: 0/37 (0%) vs 11/102 (10.8%) vs 12/73 (16.4%); p=0.02)). Probability of response at month +6 was very high when at least two of the three following items selected by multivariate analysis were present: positive rheumatoid factor and/or anticyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies, previous treatment with ≤1 anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) agent, and 158VV FCGR3A genotype (p<0.0001; OR 7.9, 95% CI 4.1 to 15.1). Conclusions The 158VV FCGR3A genotype was associated with response to RTX in a large cohort of RA patients. Patient genotyping may be helpful to plan RTX treatment, and may be integrated with clinical predictors.
  Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases 03/2013; · 8.73 Impact Factor
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  Available from: Maurizio Benucci

  Article: Factors correlated with improvement of endothelial dysfunction during rituximab therapy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

  Maurizio Benucci, Gianantonio Saviola, Mariangela Manfredi, Piercarlo Sarzi-Puttini, Fabiola Atzeni
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  ABSTRACT: Increased cardiovascular mortality has been associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). There are reports indicating that tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blockers may exert favorable but transient effects on the lipid profile, flow-mediated vasodilatation (FMD) of the brachial artery, and the common carotid intima–media thickness (ccIMT) in RA. We evaluated 38 RA patients (33 females and five males with a mean age of 66.7 ± 10.2 years) who were unresponsive to TNF blockers. The patients received one or more courses of two rituximab (RTX) 1000 mg infusions. Disease activity was evaluated at each visit. Investigations included erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, the 28-joint disease activity score (DAS28), DAS28CRP, the Health Assessment Questionnaire, the FMD percent change from baseline (FMD%), and the postnitroglycerine endothelium-independent vasodilatation. In comparison with the baseline, there was a significant improvement in clinical variables and acute-phase reactants 24 months after the start of RTX therapy. There was also a major improvement in FMD% (from baseline 5.24 ± 1.12 to 5.43 ± 1.16; P = -0.03) and a smaller change in the ccIMT (from baseline 0.69 ± 0.16 to 0.67 ± 0.12 mm P = 0.25). Univariate analysis showed that global health (P , 0.034) was associated with the improvement in FMD%. Multivariate models showed that GH (odds ratio [OR] 0.91; 95% CI: 0.99–0.83; P = 0.032), CD19+ cells (OR 1.024; 95% CI: 1.045–1.003; P = 0.025), IgM (OR 1.025; 95% CI: 1.045–1.004; P = 0.016), and interleukin (IL)-8 (OR 0.487; 95% CI: 0.899–0.264; P = 0.021) were statistically associated with the improvement of FMD%, and that IL-8 (OR 0.717; 95% CI: 0.926–0.555; P = 0.018) was also statistically associated with improvement of ccIMT. The findings of the study confirm that RTX reduces the progression of accelerated atherosclerosis in patients with RA. They also show that improvement in CD19+ cells, IgM and GH after treatment are statistically associated with the improvement of FMD%, and that improvement in IL-8 levels after treatment is statistically associated with improved FMD% and with decrease in the ccIMT.
  Biologics: Targets & Therapy 03/2013; 7:69-75.
• Article: Infections during treatment with biological agents and possible treatment in clinical practice.

  Fabiola Atzeni, Maurizio Benucci, Piercarlo Sarzi-Puttini
  Expert Review of Clinical Immunology 03/2013; 9(3):193-5. · 2.07 Impact Factor
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  Available from: Maurizio Benucci

  Article: Changes in atherosclerosis markers during tocilizumab treatment in rheumatoid arthritis: preliminary results.

  Maurizio Benucci, Mariangela Manfredi, Gianantonio Saviola, Piercarlo Sarzi-Puttini, Fabiola Atzeni
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  ABSTRACT: -
  Clinical and experimental rheumatology 02/2013; · 2.15 Impact Factor
• Article: The TTTT BLyS promoter haplotype associates with good response to Rituximab therapy in seropositive rheumatoid arthritis resistant to TNF blockers.

  Martina Fabris, Luca Quartuccio, Ed Vital, Elena Pontarini, Sara Salvin, Cinzia Fabro, Alen Zabotti, Maurizio Benucci, Mariangela Manfredi, Viviana Ravagnani, [......], Angelo Semeraro, Franco Schiavon, Roberto Caporali, Roberto Bortolotti, Marcello Govoni, Federico Fogolari, Elio Tonutti, Stefano Bombardieri, Paul Emery, Salvatore De Vita
  Arthritis & Rheumatism 01/2013; 65(1):88-97. · 7.87 Impact Factor