Extension Study to Assess the Efficacy and Safety of Repeat Treatment With Rituximab (MabThera) in Participants With Active Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)

A participant had an ACR20 response if there was at least a 20 percent (%) improvement, ie, reduction from Baseline, in tender joint count (TJC) and swollen joint count (SJC) (28 assessed joints) and in at least 3 of the following 5 parameters: 1) Physician's Global Assessment of Disease Activity [visual analog scale (VAS): 0=no disease activity to 100=maximum disease activity]; 2) Patient's Global Assessment of Disease Activity [VAS: 0=no disease activity to 100=maximum disease activity]; 3) Patient's Assessment of Pain [VAS: 0=no pain to 100=unbearable pain]; 4) Health Assessment Questionnaire [20 questions, 8 components: dressing/grooming, arising, eating, walking, hygiene, reach, grip, and activities, 0=without difficulty to 3=unable to do] and 5) an acute-phase reactant (either C-reactive protein [CRP] or erythrocyte sedimentation rate [ESR]). The ACR20 response was compared to Baseline in the precursor studies WA16291 or WA17043.

A participant had an ACR20 response if there was at least a 20% improvement, ie, reduction from Baseline, in TJC and SJC (28 assessed joints) and in at least 3 of the following 5 parameters: 1) Physician's Global Assessment of Disease Activity [VAS: 0=no disease activity to 100=maximum disease activity]; 2) Patient's Global Assessment of Disease Activity [VAS: 0=no disease activity to 100=maximum disease activity]; 3) Patient's Assessment of Pain [VAS: 0=no pain to 100=unbearable pain]; 4) Health Assessment Questionnaire [20 questions, 8 components: dressing/grooming, arising, eating, walking, hygiene, reach, grip, and activities, 0=without difficulty to 3=unable to do] and 5) an acute-phase reactant (either CRP or ESR). The ACR20 response was compared to Baseline in the precursor studies WA16291 or WA17043.

A participant had an ACR20 response if there was at least a 20% improvement, ie, reduction from Baseline, in TJC and SJC (28 assessed joints) and in at least 3 of the following 5 parameters: 1) Physician's Global Assessment of Disease Activity [VAS: 0=no disease activity to 100=maximum disease activity]; 2) Patient's Global Assessment of Disease Activity [VAS: 0=no disease activity to 100=maximum disease activity]; 3) Patient's Assessment of Pain [VAS: 0=no pain to 100=unbearable pain]; 4) Health Assessment Questionnaire [20 questions, 8 components: dressing/grooming, arising, eating, walking, hygiene, reach, grip, and activities, 0=without difficulty to 3=unable to do] and 5) an acute-phase reactant (either CRP or ESR). The ACR20 response was compared to Baseline in the precursor studies WA16291 or WA17043.

A participant had an ACR20 response if there was at least a 20% improvement, ie, reduction from Baseline, in TJC and SJC (28 assessed joints) and in at least 3 of the following 5 parameters: 1) Physician's Global Assessment of Disease Activity [VAS: 0=no disease activity to 100=maximum disease activity]; 2) Patient's Global Assessment of Disease Activity [VAS: 0=no disease activity to 100=maximum disease activity]; 3) Patient's Assessment of Pain [VAS: 0=no pain to 100=unbearable pain]; 4) Health Assessment Questionnaire [20 questions, 8 components: dressing/grooming, arising, eating, walking, hygiene, reach, grip, and activities, 0=without difficulty to 3=unable to do] and 5) an acute-phase reactant (either CRP or ESR). The ACR20 response was compared to Baseline in the precursor studies WA16291 or WA17043.

A participant had an ACR20 response if there was at least a 20% improvement, ie, reduction from Baseline, in TJC and SJC (28 assessed joints) and in at least 3 of the following 5 parameters: 1) Physician's Global Assessment of Disease Activity [VAS: 0=no disease activity to 100=maximum disease activity]; 2) Patient's Global Assessment of Disease Activity [VAS: 0=no disease activity to 100=maximum disease activity]; 3) Patient's Assessment of Pain [VAS: 0=no pain to 100=unbearable pain]; 4) Health Assessment Questionnaire [20 questions, 8 components: dressing/grooming, arising, eating, walking, hygiene, reach, grip, and activities, 0=without difficulty to 3=unable to do] and 5) an acute-phase reactant (either CRP or ESR). The ACR20 response was compared to Baseline in the precursor studies WA16291 or WA17043.

A participant had an ACR20 response if there was at least a 20% improvement, ie, reduction from Baseline, in TJC and SJC (28 assessed joints) and in at least 3 of the following 5 parameters: 1) Physician's Global Assessment of Disease Activity [VAS: 0=no disease activity to 100=maximum disease activity]; 2) Patient's Global Assessment of Disease Activity [VAS: 0=no disease activity to 100=maximum disease activity]; 3) Patient's Assessment of Pain [VAS: 0=no pain to 100=unbearable pain]; 4) Health Assessment Questionnaire [20 questions, 8 components: dressing/grooming, arising, eating, walking, hygiene, reach, grip, and activities, 0=without difficulty to 3=unable to do] and 5) an acute-phase reactant (either CRP or ESR). The ACR20 response was compared to Baseline in the precursor studies WA16291 or WA17043.

A participant had an ACR20 response if there was at least a 20% improvement, ie, reduction from Baseline, in TJC and SJC (28 assessed joints) and in at least 3 of the following 5 parameters: 1) Physician's Global Assessment of Disease Activity [VAS: 0=no disease activity to 100=maximum disease activity]; 2) Patient's Global Assessment of Disease Activity [VAS: 0=no disease activity to 100=maximum disease activity]; 3) Patient's Assessment of Pain [VAS: 0=no pain to 100=unbearable pain]; 4) Health Assessment Questionnaire [20 questions, 8 components: dressing/grooming, arising, eating, walking, hygiene, reach, grip, and activities, 0=without difficulty to 3=unable to do] and 5) an acute-phase reactant (either CRP or ESR). The ACR20 response was compared to Baseline in the precursor studies WA16291 or WA17043.

A participant had an ACR50 and ACR70 response if there was at least a 50% or 70% improvement, ie, reduction from Baseline, in TJC and SJC (28 assessed joints) and in at least 3 of the following 5 parameters: 1) Physician's Global Assessment of disease activity [VAS: 0=no disease activity to 100=maximum disease activity]; 2) Patient's Global Assessment of Disease Activity [VAS: 0=no disease activity to 100=maximum disease activity]; 3) Patient's Assessment of Pain [VAS: 0=no pain to 100=unbearable pain]; 4) Health Assessment Questionnaire [20 questions, 8 components: dressing/grooming, arising, eating, walking, hygiene, reach, grip, and activities, 0=without difficulty to 3=unable to do] and 5) an acute-phase reactant (CRP or ESR). The ACR50 and ACR70 responses were compared to Baseline in the precursor studies WA16291 or WA17043.

The ACRn is calculated for each participant by taking the lowest percentage improvement in (1) SJC or (2) TJC or (3) the median of the remaining 5 components of the ACR response (patient's assessment of disease activity; patient's global assessment of pain; physician's assessment of disease activity; participant's assessment of physical function; an acute phase reactant value [either CRP or ESR]). The index of improvement in RA, where 0 indicates no improvement and 100 indicates a 100% improvement across all signs and symptoms of RA. ACRn scores were calculated considering the original baseline in the precursor studies WA16291 or WA17043.

DAS28-ESR was calculated from SJC and TJC using 28 joints count, ESR (millimeters per hour [mm/hour]), and Patient's Global Assessment of Disease Activity (VAS: 0=no disease activity to 100=maximum disease activity). DAS28-ESR = 0.56*square root (sqrt)(TJC28) + 0.28*sqrt(SJC28) + 0.70*natural logarithm (ln) (ESR) + 0.014*Patient's Global Assessment of Disease Activity. Total score range: 0-10, higher score=more disease activity. DAS28-ESR <= 3.2 implied low disease activity (LDA) and DAS28-ESR <2.6 = clinical remission.

DAS28-ESR was calculated from SJC and TJC using 28 joints count, ESR (mm/hour), and Physician's Global Assessment of Disease Activity (VAS: 0=no disease activity to 100=maximum disease activity). DAS28-ESR = 0.56*sqrt(TJC28) + 0.28*sqrt(SJC28) + 0.70*ln(ESR) + 0.014*Patient's Global Assessment of Disease Activity. The DAS28-based EULAR response criteria were used to measure individual response as none, good, and moderate, depending on the extent of change from baseline and the level of disease activity reached. Good responders had a change from baseline greater than (>) 1.2 with a DAS28 score less than or equal to (≤) 3.2; moderate responders had a change from baseline >1.2 with a DAS28 score >3.2 to less than or equal to (≤) 5.1 or a change from baseline >0.6 to ≤1.2 with a DAS28 score ≤5.1.

The HAQ-DI is a questionnaire specific for rheumatoid arthritis and consists of 20 questions referring to 8 domains: Dressing/grooming, arising, eating, walking, hygiene, reach, grip, and activities. Participants completed the questionnaire by answering the 20 questions on a scale of 0 (without difficulty) to 3 (unable to do). The total score ranges from 0 (no disability) to 3 (completely disabled). A negative change score indicates improvement.

Time since last treatment course = The last day of the last dose of rituximab to date of last contact. Date of last contact is the last available date of efficacy, complete medication start date, laboratory, adverse event assessments, early withdrawal visit, date of last contact, or date of death.