Abstract
Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an immune-mediated disorder with a variable response to treatment. In this study, patients with refractory MG who were treated with rituximab were identified. A review of patients referred to the Yale Neuromuscular Clinic was performed. Patients with refractory MG who were treated with rituximab were reviewed for response to treatment. Patients who had muscle-specific kinase (MuSK(+)) or acetylcholine receptor (AChR(+)) antibodies were included. Six patients were identified who met the criteria described. All patients tolerated rituximab without side effects and had a reduced need for immunosuppressants and/or improvement in clinical function. Patients with refractory MG appeared to respond to rituximab in this small, retrospective study. This result suggests that a larger, prospective trial is indicated.
MeSH terms
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Anti-Inflammatory Agents / therapeutic use
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Antibodies, Monoclonal / therapeutic use*
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Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived
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Cholinesterase Inhibitors / therapeutic use
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Disease-Free Survival
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Drug Administration Schedule
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Female
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Humans
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Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / therapeutic use
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Immunologic Factors / therapeutic use
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Middle Aged
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Myasthenia Gravis / drug therapy*
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Myasthenia Gravis / immunology
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Prednisone / therapeutic use
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Pyridostigmine Bromide / therapeutic use
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Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / immunology
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Receptors, Cholinergic / immunology
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Retrospective Studies
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Rituximab
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Treatment Outcome
Substances
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Anti-Inflammatory Agents
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Antibodies, Monoclonal
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Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived
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Cholinesterase Inhibitors
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Immunoglobulins, Intravenous
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Immunologic Factors
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Receptors, Cholinergic
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Rituximab
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MUSK protein, human
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Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
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Pyridostigmine Bromide
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Prednisone