Successful treatment of refractory neuroSjogren with Rituximab.
We report a 47-year-old female with Sjogren's syndrome (SS) and severe weakness in her lower extremities refractory to cyclophosphamide therapy, who was treated with the monoclonal anti CD-20 antibody rituximab at a weekly dose of 375 mg/m2 for four consecutive weeks. Patient responded within few days of the first dose and her motor power in the lower extremities started to improve gradually along with progressive resolution of the paresthesias and dysesthesias. The improvement was sustained and progressive and eight months after the last dose, she was able to walk for 60 meters without aid or rest. Rituximab may be considered as an effective and promising novel therapy in SS patients with neurological involvement.
Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon. yamoutba@idm.net.lb
B
B
Yamout
T
T
El-Hajj
W
W
Barada
I
I
Uthman
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D018951:Antigens, CD20; D001706:Biopsy; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D000069283:Rituximab; D012859:Sjogren's Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D018951:Antigens, CD20; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D000069283:Rituximab