title: Rituximab in the treatment of peripheral neuropathy associated with monoclonal gammopathy.
abstract: Peripheral neuropathy associated with immunoglobulin (Ig)M gammopathy and anti-myelin-associated glycoprotein antibodies is frequently treatment-resistant and different treatment regimens carry substantial toxicity and side effects. More recently, the chimeric anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody rituximab has shown benefits in the treatment of peripheral neuropathy associated with IgM gammopathy with a favorable side-effect profile. There are no published reports of its use in the treatment of neuropathy associated with IgG and IgA gammopathies. Rituximab is usually given at 375 mg/m(2) intravenously with four weekly doses that may be repeated after 6-12 months. Large controlled studies are still pending but rituximab is an exciting and promising treatment offering another option in the treatment of peripheral neuropathy associated with IgM monoclonal gammopathy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, PUH F875, 200 Lothrop Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. zivkovics@upmc.edu
authors.forename: Sasa A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Zivković
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D010265:Paraproteinemias / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000069283:Rituximab; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D000069283:Rituximab