title: Responsiveness to reduced dosage of rituximab in Chinese patients with neuromyelitis optica.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effect of a lower dose of rituximab in depleting B lymphocytes, maintaining low B-cell counts, and relapse in patients with neuromyelitis optica (NMO) and NMO spectrum disorders.
  
  
  METHODS
  We treated 5 Chinese patients with deteriorating NMO and NMO spectrum disorders with a 100-mg IV infusion of rituximab once a week for 3 consecutive weeks, followed by additional infusion of the same dosage depending on circulating B-cell repopulation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This reduced dosage of rituximab was sufficient to deplete B cells and maintain low B-cell counts. None of the treated patients experienced relapse, and all patients exhibited stabilized or improved neurologic function during the 1-year follow-up period. MRI revealed the absence of new lesions, no enhancement in spinal cord and brain, a significant shrinkage of spinal cord segments, and a reduction/disappearance of previous brain lesions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A lower dosage of rituximab may be sufficient in depleting B cells, maintaining low B-cell counts, and preventing disease progression in Chinese patients with NMO.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Tianjin Neurological Institute, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, China.
authors.forename: Chun-Sheng
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Ting
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Da-Qi
authors.initials: DQ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Wei-Na
authors.initials: WN
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Min-Shu
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Ning
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Nannan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zhangning
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Zong-Hong
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Shao
authors.forename: Chunshui
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Fu-Dong
authors.initials: FD
authors.lastname: Shi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology; D002681:China; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D009471:Neuromyelitis Optica / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000069283:Rituximab; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D000069283:Rituximab