Late-onset neutropenia after anti-CD20 therapy for multiple sclerosis, neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders and MOG antibody-associated disease: A prospective study

Rev Neurol (Paris). 2021 Sep 24:S0035-3787(21)00660-3. doi: 10.1016/j.neurol.2021.06.007. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTLate-onset neutropenia (LON) after anti-CD20 therapy is a poorly described side effect in inflammatory disorders of the CNS. In this prospective study, patients treated with Rituximab or Ocrelizumab for MS, neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders or MOG antibody-associated disease (MOGAD) were asked to perform complete blood count (CBC) every two weeks for six months, with the aim of identifying LON. Out of 152 patients, two (1,32%) had an absolute neutrophil count <1,000/mm3: one patient with MOGAD had agranulocytosis and one patient with MS had grade 3 neutropenia. Both were asymptomatic. These results confirm that LON after anti-CD20 therapy in inflammatory disorders of the CNS is not exceptional. Nevertheless, this biological complication remains too infrequent to justify close systematic CBC follow-up.PMID:34579948 | DOI:10.1016/j.neurol.2021.06.007
Source: Revue Neurologique - Category: Neurology Authors: Source Type: research