title: An open label study of the effects of rituximab in neuromyelitis optica.
abstract: Eight patients with worsening neuromyelitis optica were treated with rituximab to achieve B cell depletion. Treatment was well tolerated. Six of eight patients were relapse free and median attack rate declined from 2.6 attacks/patient/year to 0 attacks/patient/year (p = 0.0078). Seven of eight patients experienced substantial recovery of neurologic function over 1 year of average follow-up. The pretreatment median Expanded Disability Status Scale score was 7.5, and at follow-up examination was 5.5 (p = 0.013).
authors.affiliation: Multiple Sclerosis Center, University of California, San Francisco 94117, USA. bcree@itsa.ucsf.edu
authors.forename: B A C
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Cree
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lamb
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Morgan
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Waubant
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Genain
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008297:Male; D009188:Myelitis, Transverse / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D009471:Neuromyelitis Optica / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D009900:Optic Nerve / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D009902:Optic Neuritis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D000069283:Rituximab; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D000069283:Rituximab