Abstract
Objective:
To describe 2 patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) receiving long-term treatment with the monoclonal antibody rituximab. The clinical and paraclinical efficacy of rituximab was demonstrated recently in a phase 2 clinical trial in patients with RRMS.
Design:
Case series.
Setting:
Tertiary care university medical center.
Patients:
Two young patients with highly active RRMS in whom standard therapy had failed before receiving rituximab for up to 48 months.
Main outcome measures:
Relapse rate, clinical disability, and results of magnetic resonance imaging.
Results:
Both patients tolerated rituximab treatment well and have been clinically stable throughout the study period.
Conclusion:
Long-term therapy with rituximab appears safe and effective in some patients with RRMS. Our observation should be confirmed in controlled long-term trials.
MeSH terms
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Adult
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Antibodies, Monoclonal / pharmacology*
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Antibodies, Monoclonal / therapeutic use
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Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived
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Antibody Formation / drug effects
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Antibody Formation / immunology
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B-Lymphocytes / drug effects*
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B-Lymphocytes / immunology*
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Cell Proliferation / drug effects
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Central Nervous System / drug effects
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Central Nervous System / immunology
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Central Nervous System / pathology
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Disability Evaluation
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Down-Regulation / drug effects
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Down-Regulation / immunology
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Humans
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Immunologic Factors / pharmacology
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Immunologic Factors / therapeutic use
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Immunosuppression Therapy / methods*
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Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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Male
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Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / drug therapy*
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Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / immunology*
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Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / physiopathology
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Rituximab
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Secondary Prevention
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Time
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Treatment Outcome
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Young Adult
Substances
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Antibodies, Monoclonal
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Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived
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Immunologic Factors
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Rituximab