Bentolhoda Ziaadini; Narges Karimi; Akram Panahi; Ali Asghar Okhovat; Farzad Fatehi; Shahriar Nafissi
Abstract
Background: This retrospective cohort study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and tolerance of rituximab (RTX) for the management of myasthenia gravis (MG).Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted on 61 patients with refractory and non-refractory MG who received RTX. The Myasthenia ...
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Background: This retrospective cohort study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and tolerance of rituximab (RTX) for the management of myasthenia gravis (MG).Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted on 61 patients with refractory and non-refractory MG who received RTX. The Myasthenia Gravis Activities of Daily Living (MG-ADL) profile was used to assess MG symptoms and their effects on daily activities at the start of RTX and in the last follow-up. The Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America Post-Intervention Status (MGFA-PIS) scale has been used as an outcome measure after treatment with RTX in the 12th month and the last follow-up.Results: The mean age of the patients was 40.31 ± 13.53 years (range: 15-78 years). Of 61 patients, eight (13.1%) were double seronegative, 29 (47.5%) had anti-acetylcholine receptor (AChR+) antibody, and 24 (39.3%) had anti-muscle-specific tyrosine kinase antibody (MuSK+). According to the mean rank table, the results of this study showed that the drug was more effective in improving the symptoms of MuSK+ patients compared to the other two groups (P = 0.006). The mean MG-ADL was 4.86 ± 1.83 before treatment and 1.51 ± 2.02 in the last follow-up visit. Paired t-test showed a significant association between MG-ADL before and after treatment in the last visit [t(55): 11.30, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.79-3.99, P = 0.001)].Conclusion: This retrospective study showed a considerable effect of RTX as induction therapy in patients with MG, especially those with MuSk+ MG.
Fereshteh Ghadiri; Mohammad Ali Sahraian; Abdorreza Naser Moghadasi
Nastaran Majdinasab; Mitra Sadrian; Davood Kashipazha; Maryam Moradi
Abstract
Background: The study aimed to judge the safety and possible side effects of rituximab (RTX) drug in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Methods: This retrospective observational study was performed on 91 patients with MS who had been treated with RTX between 2016 and 2019. Each patient was visited ...
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Background: The study aimed to judge the safety and possible side effects of rituximab (RTX) drug in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Methods: This retrospective observational study was performed on 91 patients with MS who had been treated with RTX between 2016 and 2019. Each patient was visited and examined a minimum of once. The side effects of the drug and therefore the drug-related reactions to the injection were asked via phone calls, which were recorded separately as mild, moderate, and severe modes with the necessity for hospitalization. Results: A total of 91 patients were enrolled within the study: 80 patients with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS), 6 patients with secondary progressive MS (SPMS), and 5 patients with primary progressive MS (PPMS). The mean age of the patients was 32.18 ± 8.71 years (18 to 60 years). The injection-related side effects occurred in 30.8% of the injections, most of which were mild and one of the mild complications was urinary tract infection (UTI). Two cases of complications with moderate severity were recorded. Conclusion: The observations from this study demonstrated that RTX did not cause serious complications in patients with MS.
