Head tremor secondary to MS resolved with rituximab

Neurol Sci. 2011 Dec;32(6):1157-60. doi: 10.1007/s10072-011-0600-x. Epub 2011 May 10.

Abstract

We describe the case of a 33-year-old woman who presented with a 2-month history of worsening head tremor. The medical evaluation led to the new diagnosis of MS and the MRI of brain demonstrated prominently active disease. Intravenous rituximab was started according to the HERMES trial, and significant improvement was noted. She has received additional rituximab dosing approximately every 6 months, and at the 2-year follow-up the tremor has not recurred. The resolution of head tremor likely resulted from the complete suppression of MS disease activity, which must have allowed restoration of normal neural circuitry. In agreement with a growing body of evidence that supports early control of MS disease activity to prevent accumulation of fixed disability, this case advocates for aggressive immunological therapy at the onset of tremor in MS patients.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived / therapeutic use*
  • Brain / drug effects
  • Brain / pathology
  • Female
  • Head*
  • Humans
  • Immunologic Factors / therapeutic use*
  • Injections, Intravenous
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Multiple Sclerosis / complications
  • Multiple Sclerosis / drug therapy
  • Rituximab
  • Tremor / drug therapy*
  • Tremor / etiology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived
  • Immunologic Factors
  • Rituximab