Articles Tagged With: rituximab
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Comparison of the Efficacy of Rituximab vs. Ocrelizumab in the Treatment of Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis
Rituximab is an anti-CD20 chimeric monoclonal antibody used off-label to treat multiple sclerosis (MS). Ocrelizumab is a humanized monoclonal anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody that is Food and Drug Administration-approved for the treatment of MS. In this observational cohort study, the authors were not able to demonstrate noninferiority of rituximab compared to ocrelizumab because of a significantly lower relapse rate in the ocrelizumab-treated group.
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Rituximab Treatment for AChR Myasthenia Gravis: Results of the BeatMG Study
The B-Cell Targeted Treatment In Myasthenia Gravis (BeatMG) study was the first prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial to explore the role of targeted B-cell depletion in myasthenia patients. Although rituximab was found to be safe and well-tolerated, rituximab treatment did not confer a significant steroid-sparing effect compared to placebo. Results of a futility analysis suggested rituximab treatment would be unlikely to show a clinically meaningful improvement of 30% over placebo in a larger Phase III trial of mild to moderately symptomatic acetylcholine receptor autoantibody-positive generalized myasthenia gravis patients.
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Management of Pulmonary-Renal Syndrome
The role of the intensivist in the management of pulmonary-renal syndrome includes appropriate respiratory support and recognition and management of concurrent infection, hypovolemia, acute anemia, and coagulopathy.
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Rituximab for the Treatment of MOG and AQP4 Antibody Diseases
Based on an observational prospective study of 16 patients with anti-myelin oligodendrocyte protein (MOG) disease and 29 anti-aquaporin-4 disease, the authors report lesser efficacy of rituximab in anti-MOG patients, characterized by higher occurrence of relapses in the anti-MOG group, even while the biological effect of rituximab on memory B-cell suppression was sustained.
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Rituximab for CIDP Associated With Systemic Immune Disorders
Rituximab has been used “off label” for the treatment of primary chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP) with variable reports of success. These authors reported a high rate of response in patients who developed CIDP in the setting of other systemic immune-mediated disorders.
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Anti-MAG Antibodies: Clinical and Therapeutic Aspects
Anti-MAG antibody-associated neuropathy may present as many disorders, including small fiber neuropathy, sensorimotor neuropathy, Guillain-Barré-like syndrome, and multifocal motor neuropathy. Rituximab appears to be the best therapeutic option.
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Rituximab for Myasthenia Gravis
In uncontrolled, observational case series, rituximab treatment for myasthenia gravis appears to be effective and safe, but more studies are needed for confirmation.
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Rituximab Treatment in Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorders
Based on a meta-analysis and review of rituximab use in the treatment of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders, the authors reported that rituximab was efficacious in reducing relapse rate and disability, but cautioned about potential side effects and adverse events, especially when considering rituximab as first-line therapy.