title: Treatment of stiff person syndrome with rituximab.
abstract: This case report is about the novel use of the anti-CD20 antibody, rituximab, in the treatment of a 41 year old woman with stiff person syndrome. She was admitted to hospital as an emergency with prolonged and painful extensor spasms affecting the neck and back, arms, and legs. The disease had progressed despite a favourable initial response to conventional treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin and cytotoxics. Treatment with rituximab induced a lasting clinical remission.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Royal Victoria Infirmary Queen Victoria Road, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 4LP, UK.
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Das
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Isaacs
authors.forename: P R W
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Fawcett
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bates
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D018951:Antigens, CD20 / Q000276:immunology; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004576:Electromyography / Q000187:drug effects; D019054:Evoked Potentials, Motor / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005968:Glutamate Decarboxylase / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007116:Immunization, Passive; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010276:Parasympatholytics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012008:Recurrence; D000069283:Rituximab; D013035:Spasm / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D016750:Stiff-Person Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D018951:Antigens, CD20; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001323:Autoantibodies; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D010276:Parasympatholytics; D000069283:Rituximab; D005968:Glutamate Decarboxylase; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid