The role of rituximab in the treatment of myasthenia gravis

Journal article

Rituximab, a chimaeric monoclonal antibody against CD20, depletes B cells. It was initially approved for the treatment of B-cell lymphomas, but more recently has been approved for use in rheumatoid arthritis. It has been used extensively 'off-label' for the treatment of other autoimmune diseases with some evidence of efficacy, but there remain some as yet unanswered concerns about safety. Myasthenia gravis is the paradigm of an antibody-mediated disorder, and B cells are believed to play a crucial role. This article reviews experience of the efficacy and safety of rituximab in myasthenia gravis and considers predictive factors for the success and failure of rituximab in this disease. © TOUCH BRIEFINGS 2010.

Authors: Benveniste, O; Hilton-Jones, D

• Journal: European Neurological Review
• Volume: 5
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 95-100
• Publication date: 2010-01-01
• EISSN: 1758-3845
• ISSN: 1758-3837
• Language: English
• Keywords: Clinical response; Myasthenia gravis; Antimuscle-specific tyrosine kinase (anti-MuSK); Rituximab; Antiacetylcholine receptor (anti-AChR); Predictive factors