Open AccessEfficacy of Rituximab on Rheumatoid Leptomeningitis as the First Symptom of Rheumatoid Arthritis
Author(s) -
Mickaël Chouk,
A Halb,
Christine Mekhail,
A. Godot,
Frank Verhoeven,
Clément Prati,
Daniel Wendling
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
european journal of case reports in internal medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.125
H-Index - 1
ISSN - 2284-2594
DOI - 10.12890/2021_002358
Subject(s) - medicine , rheumatoid arthritis , rituximab , rheumatoid factor , methylprednisolone , cerebrospinal fluid , meningitis , immunology , surgery , antibody
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized mainly by arthritis, with the possible occurrence of extra-articular manifestations. We report the case of a patient who developed leptomeningitis as the first sign of RA, one year before the diagnosis of RA. Methylprednisolone 1000 mg was given intravenously. Because of the onset of seizures and cognitive impairment, rituximab was started. After three cycles of rituximab (1000 mg on day 0 and 1000 mg on day 15, every 6 months), neurological clinical examination, MRI and electroencephalogram findings were significantly improved.