| Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8279552 | Journal of the Neurological Sciences | 2013 | 6 Pages |
Abstract
The aim of this observational study was to analyze clinical and immunological effects of rituximab treatment in neuromyelitis optica (NMO) and longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis (LETM) patients. We report on four NMO and two recurrent LETM patients who were treated with rituximab. Overall, B-cell depletion resulted in profound clinical stabilization in all patients. Rituximab did not affect titers of antibodies to aquaporin-4 (AQP4-IgG) and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein, immunoglobulin (Ig) isotypes and IgG subtype distribution, even after long-term B-cell depletion. Relapses were not associated with re-emerging B-cells, serum levels of B-cell activating factor (BAFF) or AQP4-IgG titers. BAFF serum levels increased following rituximab treatment.
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Authors
Viktoria Gredler, Simone Mader, Kathrin Schanda, Harald Hegen, Franziska Di Pauli, Bettina Kuenz, Florian Deisenhammer, Thomas Berger, Markus Reindl, Andreas Lutterotti,