title: An uncontrolled trial of rituximab for antibody associated paraneoplastic neurological syndromes.
abstract: Anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody (rituximab) is effectively used in the treatment of B-cell lymphomas. Recent reports in the literature suggest that antibody associated autoimmune disorders may respond to rituximab. We therefore treated nine patients with anti-Hu or anti-Yo associated paraneoplastic neurological syndromes (PNS) with a maximum of four monthly IV infusions of rituximab (375mg/m(2)). In this uncontrolled, unblinded trial of rituximab, three patients improved > or =1 point on the Rankin Scale (RS). One patient with limbic encephalitis improved dramatically (RS from 5 to 1). Further studies of rituximab in autoantibody associated PNS are warranted.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Neurology, Erasmus MC, Dr Molewaterplein 40, 3015 GD, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Setareh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shams'ili
authors.forename: Janet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: de Beukelaar
authors.forename: Jan Willem
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Gratama
authors.forename: Herbert
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hooijkaas
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: van den Bent
authors.forename: Mars
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: van 't Veer
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sillevis Smitt
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000906:Antibodies / Q000378:metabolism*; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051959:ELAV Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D020361:Paraneoplastic Syndromes, Nervous System / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology*; D000069283:Rituximab; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; C095184:CDR2 protein, human; D051959:ELAV Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D000069283:Rituximab