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Medical AI Inquiry: You was designed to assist in medical decision-making based on the provided user questions. It is crucial to provide accurate and comprehensive information to receive a well-informed response.  Labels: BACKGROUND, METHODS, RESULTS. Meshes: Adult, Aged, Antirheumatic Agents, Arthritis, Rheumatoid, B-Lymphocytes, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography, Radioisotopes, Rituximab, Tissue Distribution, Zirconium.
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Is b-cell imaging with zirconium-89 labelled rituximab PET-CT at baseline associated with therapeutic response 24 weeks after initiation of rituximab treatment in rheumatoid arthritis patients? Context: B cells are key players in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Although successful in 50-60% of patients with RA, anti-B-cell therapy given as rituximab could be more efficient by identifying potential responders prior to treatment. Positron emission tomography (PET) using radiolabeled rituximab for B-cell imaging might provide the means to fulfil this unmet clinical need. The objective of this study was to investigate the association between biodistribution of zirconium-89 ( We included 20 patients with RA who were starting rituximab treatment. At the first intravenous (i.v.) therapeutic dose, patients were also injected with  PET-positive hand joints (range 1-20) were observed in 18/20 patients. Responders had significantly higher 
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Non-invasive B-cell imaging by  Final Decision: yes