P.376Effect of low-dose rituximab treatment on T- and B-cell lymphocyte imbalance in refractory myasthenia gravis

We aimed to explore the effects of low-dose rituximab (RTX) on circulating T- and B-cell lymphocytes and the improvement of clinical symptoms in refractory myasthenia gravis (MG) patients. Fifteen patients with refractory MG were treated with a low dose of 600 mg RTX and were evaluated by serial-clinical scales, flow cytometry of peripheral blood T and B cells, and antibody titer before and after six months of RTX treatment. The quantitative MG score (QMGS), manual muscle testing (MMT), MG-related activities of daily living (MG-ADL) and MG-specific quality-of-life (QOL) were significantly improved and the average steroid-dosage reduction was 40% (p  = 0.001) in refractory MG patients at six months after RTX infusion.
Source: Neuromuscular Disorders - Category: Neurology Authors: Source Type: research