An uncontrolled trial of rituximab for antibody associated paraneoplastic neurological syndromes.
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.
Shams'ili
Setareh
S
Dept. of Neurology, Erasmus MC, Dr Molewaterplein 40, 3015 GD, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
de Beukelaar
Janet
J
Gratama
Jan Willem
JW
Hooijkaas
Herbert
H
van den Bent
Martin
M
van 't Veer
Mars
M
Sillevis Smitt
Peter
P
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
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