B-cell-activating factor in rituximab-treated patients with anti-MAG polyneuropathy
Background Antimyelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG) polyneuropathy is a slowly progressive distal form of mixed motor-sensory polyneuropathy that is scarcely responsive to conventional immunosuppressive therapy. Rituximab, a B-cell depleting antibody, is a promising therapeutic choice for anti-MAG p...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article (Journal) |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
2011
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| In: |
Journal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry
Year: 2011, Volume: 82, Issue: 11, Pages: 1291-1294 |
| ISSN: | 1468-330X |
| DOI: | 10.1136/jnnp.2010.222216 |
| Online Access: | Verlag, lizenzpflichtig, Volltext: https://doi.org/10.1136/jnnp.2010.222216 Verlag, lizenzpflichtig, Volltext: https://jnnp.bmj.com/content/82/11/1291 
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| Author Notes: | Luana Benedetti, Elisabetta Zardini, Chiara Briani, Alessandro Beronio, Stefania Gastaldi, Sven Jarius, Gian Luigi Mancardi, Angelo Schenone, Diego Franciotta |
| Summary: | Background Antimyelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG) polyneuropathy is a slowly progressive distal form of mixed motor-sensory polyneuropathy that is scarcely responsive to conventional immunosuppressive therapy. Rituximab, a B-cell depleting antibody, is a promising therapeutic choice for anti-MAG polyneuropathy, and the evaluation of factors, such as B-cell-activating factor (BAFF), that control B-cell homeostasis is important to understand how this drug works. - Methods Using an ELISA method, the authors measured serum BAFF concentrations in 23 patients with anti-MAG polyneuropathy, before and after rituximab therapy, in 20 neurological controls and in 14 healthy subjects. The patients were followed up over a mean period of 38±12 months and categorised as responders/non-responders, and, between the responders, as relapsing/non-relapsing. - Results Pretherapy serum BAFF concentrations in non-responders were higher than in responders (cut-off 1665 pg/ml; sensitivity 71.4%; specificity 93.7%; likelihood ratio 11.4), with the highest post-therapy increases in responders. In the responders who relapsed, relapses occurred when serum BAFF concentrations returned to baseline values, 1-2 years after blood B-cell reappearance. - Conclusions Before and during therapy, measurements of serum BAFF in rituximab-treated patients with anti-MAG polyneuropathy may help predict the response to the therapy. The findings in this study also provide information about rituximab-induced modifications on B-cell homeostatic regulation. |
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| Item Description: | Gesehen am 16.03.2022 First published online: 16 December 2010 |
| Physical Description: | Online Resource |
| ISSN: | 1468-330X |
| DOI: | 10.1136/jnnp.2010.222216 |