Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 4, 2026
Induction of Paralysis and Visual System Injury in Mice by T Cells Specific for Neuromyelitis Optica Autoantigen Aquaporin-4
Published on: August 21, 2017
Efficacy of rituximab in refractory neuromyelitis optica
N Collongues1, D Brassat2, E Maillart3
1Department of Neurology, Hopital de Hautepierre, France nicolas.collongues@chru-Strasbourg.fr.
Background:
Despite a growing use of rituximab (RTX) in neuromyelitis optica (NMO), data are lacking in patients with refractory NMO (RNMO), defined as cases with at least one relapse during immunosuppressive therapy.
Objective:
The purpose of this study was to assess RTX as a maintenance therapy in RNMO.
Methods:
Out of a total of 305 NMO cases from a population-based cohort, 21 RNMO patients received RTX during a mean follow-up period of 31 months.
Results:
After RTX, 11 patients (52.3%) were relapse free, meaning that 47.7% were refractory to RTX. The mean annualized relapse rate decreased from 1.3 to 0.4 (p<0.001) and median EDSS from 5 to 3 (p=0.02). Body mass index (BMI) was predictive of EDSS worsening.
Conclusions:
RTX is an effective and well-tolerated treatment in RNMO. BMI could be a predictive factor for efficacy.
More Related Videos
08:05Bioluminescence and Near-infrared Imaging of Optic Neuritis and Brain Inflammation in the EAE Model of Multiple Sclerosis in Mice
Published on: March 1, 2017
12:23Dynamic Visual Tests to Identify and Quantify Visual Damage and Repair Following Demyelination in Optic Neuritis Patients
Published on: April 14, 2014