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Rituximab in refractory chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy
Author(s) -
Muley Suraj A.,
Jacobsen Bill,
Parry Gareth,
Usman Uzma,
Ortega Erik,
Walk David,
Allen Jeff,
Pasnoor Mamatha,
Varon Matthew,
Dimachkie Mazen M.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
muscle and nerve
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.025
H-Index - 145
eISSN - 1097-4598
pISSN - 0148-639X
DOI - 10.1002/mus.26804
Subject(s) - rituximab , medicine , chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy , refractory (planetary science) , placebo , polyneuropathy , physical therapy , oncology , immunology , antibody , pathology , alternative medicine , lymphoma , physics , astrobiology
Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) is a disorder in which early effective treatment is important to minimize disability from axonal degeneration. It has been suggested that some patients with CIDP may benefit from rituximab therapy, but there is no definitive evidence for this. Methods Baseline and post–rituximab‐therapy neuromuscular Medical Research Council (MRC) sum scores, Inflammatory Neuropathy Cause and Treatment (INCAT) disability score, and functional status were assessed in 11 patients with refactory CIDP. Results The MRC sum score, INCAT disability score, and functional status improved in all patients after rituximab therapy. Discussion Our study provides evidence of the efficacy of rituximab therapy in at least some patients with CIDP. A placebo‐controlled study to assess the effectiveness of rituximab therapy in CIDP with and without nodal antibodies is required to identify disease markers that predict responsiveness.