Rituximab in the management of refractory myasthenia gravis.
Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an immune-mediated disorder with a variable response to treatment. In this study, patients with refractory MG who were treated with rituximab were identified. A review of patients referred to the Yale Neuromuscular Clinic was performed. Patients with refractory MG who were treated with rituximab were reviewed for response to treatment. Patients who had muscle-specific kinase (MuSK(+)) or acetylcholine receptor (AChR(+)) antibodies were included. Six patients were identified who met the criteria described. All patients tolerated rituximab without side effects and had a reduced need for immunosuppressants and/or improvement in clinical function. Patients with refractory MG appeared to respond to rituximab in this small, retrospective study. This result suggests that a larger, prospective trial is indicated.
Department of Neurology, Yale University School of Medicine, 40 Temple Street, Suite 6C, New Haven, Connecticut 06510, USA.
Nazlee
N
Zebardast
Huned S
HS
Patwa
Steven P
SP
Novella
Jonathan M
JM
Goldstein
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011729:Pyridostigmine Bromide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000276:immunology; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic / Q000276:immunology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000069283:Rituximab; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic; D000069283:Rituximab; C095714:MUSK protein, human; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D011729:Pyridostigmine Bromide; D011241:Prednisone