{Reference Type}: Journal Article
{Title}: Rituximab maintenance treatment outcomes in patients with relapsing neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder: a monocentric retrospective analysis.
{Author}: Xiao L;Huang Y;Sun H;Gao S;Huang D;Wu L;
{Journal}: Acta Neurol Belg
{Volume}: 0
{Issue}: 0
{Year}: 2024 Jun 11
{Factor}: 2.471
{DOI}: 10.1007/s13760-024-02555-4
{Abstract}: Some patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) experience relapse after rituximab (RTX) treatment. In this retrospective study, we analyzed the recurrence-related clinical features, laboratory investigation results, and dosing protocol of 30 female patients with relapsing NMOSD with immunoglobulin G autoantibodies against aquaporin-4 and relapses during repeated 0.5 g RTX infusions as maintenance treatment. The median follow-up period was 6.62 years. Thirty-five episodes were observed, with myelitis being the most frequent. The median expanded disability status scale change score was 0.50. The recurrence rate decreased by 44.23%/year with RTX infusion. Approximately 85.71% of the patients showed relapse without RTX infusion within 10 months. Overall, RTX may be effective for relapsing NMOSD cases.