title: Response to rituximab and prednisolone for opsoclonus-myoclonus-ataxia syndrome in a child with ganglioneuroblastoma.
abstract: Opsoclonus-myoclonus-ataxia (OMA) syndrome is a rare neurobehavioral paraneoplastic disorder in children with neuroblastic tumors. The neurologic symptoms are generally treated with a number of immunosupressive and immunomodulating agents. A 4-year-old previously healthy male patient was admitted to the authors' center with progressive ataxia, gait disturbance, difficulty of speech, and opsoclonus. He had a diagnosis of ganglionueroblastoma at the thoracal paraspinal region. Following surgery, the patient received IVIG and prednisolone but his cerebellar symptoms progressed. Rituximab therapy was started and continued for total 8 weeks without any side effect. The authors observed excellent neurologic response in the patient at the 4th week of treatment. Rituximab is a new, promising, and safe therapy for OMA syndrome in children with neuroblastoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Oncology, Kocaeli University, Kocaeli, Turkey. fundacorapcioglu@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Funda
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Corapcioglu
authors.forename: Hatice
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mutlu
authors.forename: Bülent
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kara
authors.forename: Nagihan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Inan
authors.forename: Gür
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Akansel
authors.forename: Yesim
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gürbüz
authors.forename: Salih
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Topcu
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018305:Ganglioneuroblastoma / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D053578:Opsoclonus-Myoclonus Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011859:Radiography; D000069283:Rituximab
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000069283:Rituximab; D011239:Prednisolone