
Contributions
Abstract: EP1304
Type: Poster Sessions
Abstract Category: Clinical aspects of MS - Diagnosis and differential diagnosis
Introduction: Considering the significant promising results of several studies on rituximab in various neurological disorders like NMOSD. There are concerns about long-term complications of rituximab therapy. Rituximab definite long term safety and its infusion related side effects have not been well clarified yet. The goal of our study was to evaluate safety of rituximab in some NMOSD patients after two years of prospective observational follow up.
Methods: Rituximab was injected intravenously every 6 months. The initial course of rituximab was 345 mg/m2 (on average 500 mg) that was administered intravenously (IV) every week for 4 weeks (on average 2 gr administered overally). Further infusions of 345 mg/m2 were given (on average 500 mg) every week for 2 weeks (on average 1 gr administered overally); this was repeated every 6 months. Based on new neurological symptoms and new side effects of rituximab therapy, we had phone follow up monthly and completed a specific checklist. If we suspected to any problems or needed to examine the patients or collected supplementary.
Results: In our investigation, we included 48 NMOSD patients initially and 44 patients were successfully followed up for 2 years, (35 female and 9 male). Infections were reported in 36.6% of patients. From our experience, urinary tract and respiratory infections are the most common complication after a long-term treatment with rituximab among NMOSD patients.
Conclusion: Patients especially males tolerated repeated injection of rituximab without any significant reactions except one case of reported anaphylactic shock. Focus on NMOSD patients, and also simultaneously evaluation of long-term and injection-related complications and overally safety of rituximab therapy in these patients are some positive aspects of this study. It would be better to do such a research in a larger number of NMOSD patients with a longer period of time for follow up.
Disclosure: On behalf of all authors, the corresponding author declares there is no conflict of interest. This study was carried out without any financial support from private or public institutions.
Abstract: EP1304
Type: Poster Sessions
Abstract Category: Clinical aspects of MS - Diagnosis and differential diagnosis
Introduction: Considering the significant promising results of several studies on rituximab in various neurological disorders like NMOSD. There are concerns about long-term complications of rituximab therapy. Rituximab definite long term safety and its infusion related side effects have not been well clarified yet. The goal of our study was to evaluate safety of rituximab in some NMOSD patients after two years of prospective observational follow up.
Methods: Rituximab was injected intravenously every 6 months. The initial course of rituximab was 345 mg/m2 (on average 500 mg) that was administered intravenously (IV) every week for 4 weeks (on average 2 gr administered overally). Further infusions of 345 mg/m2 were given (on average 500 mg) every week for 2 weeks (on average 1 gr administered overally); this was repeated every 6 months. Based on new neurological symptoms and new side effects of rituximab therapy, we had phone follow up monthly and completed a specific checklist. If we suspected to any problems or needed to examine the patients or collected supplementary.
Results: In our investigation, we included 48 NMOSD patients initially and 44 patients were successfully followed up for 2 years, (35 female and 9 male). Infections were reported in 36.6% of patients. From our experience, urinary tract and respiratory infections are the most common complication after a long-term treatment with rituximab among NMOSD patients.
Conclusion: Patients especially males tolerated repeated injection of rituximab without any significant reactions except one case of reported anaphylactic shock. Focus on NMOSD patients, and also simultaneously evaluation of long-term and injection-related complications and overally safety of rituximab therapy in these patients are some positive aspects of this study. It would be better to do such a research in a larger number of NMOSD patients with a longer period of time for follow up.
Disclosure: On behalf of all authors, the corresponding author declares there is no conflict of interest. This study was carried out without any financial support from private or public institutions.