Effectiveness and safety of Rituximab in multiple sclerosis: an observational study from Southern Switzerland

PloS One
Barbara ScottiClaudio Gobbi

Abstract

Despite positive results from phase II and observational studies, Rituximab (RTX) is not currently approved for multiple sclerosis (MS) treatment and can only be used off-label. To characterize MS patients treated with RTX and investigate its effectiveness and safety in a clinical practice setting. Observational analysis of data collected from MS patients at the Neurocenter of Southern Switzerland. Relapses, EDSS worsening, MRI lesion accrual and "evidence of disease activity" (EDA) status were described by Cox regression. RTX and natalizumab treated patients were matched by propensity scores. Out of 453 MS patients, 82 were treated with RTX, 43 (52.4%) relapsing-remitting (RRMS) and 39 (47.6%) progressive MS (median age = 48 [40-54] years, females n = 60 [73.2%], EDSS = 4.0 [2.5-6.0], median follow-up = 1.5 [1.0-2.5] years). Three relapses occurred and 59 (75.6%) patients had not EDA at follow-up end. Time to EDA was similar in RTX and natalizumab treated RRMS patients (HR = 1.64, 95%CI = 0.46-5.85, p = 0.44). Twenty-four patients presented non infusion related adverse events (infections), requiring RTX discontinuation in 6 individuals. These results provide further evidence for RTX being effective in MS treatment, to a simila...Continue Reading

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Citations

Oct 2, 2019·Multiple Sclerosis : Clinical and Laboratory Research·Chiara ZeccaMaria Pia Sormani
Jan 29, 2020·Acta Neurologica Scandinavica·Johan HellgrenKristina Källén
Mar 5, 2020·Current Medical Research and Opinion·Mohd Kashif SiddiquiSchiffon L Wong
Aug 22, 2020·Multiple Sclerosis : Clinical and Laboratory Research·Natalia Gonzalez CalditoOlaf Stuve
May 1, 2020·Neurological Sciences : Official Journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology·Angelo BellinviaMaria P Amato
Sep 16, 2020·Nature Reviews. Neurology·Tomas Kalincik, Maria Pia Sormani
Aug 9, 2020·Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology·Brandi L VollmerEnrique Alvarez
Jan 4, 2019·BioDrugs : Clinical Immunotherapeutics, Biopharmaceuticals and Gene Therapy·Jonas GrafHans-Peter Hartung
Jan 9, 2021·Journal of Neurology·Clara Grazia ChisariFrancesco Patti
Aug 12, 2021·Therapeutic Advances in Chronic Disease·Tobias ZrzavyPaulus Rommer
Nov 9, 2021·The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews·Graziella FilippiniCinzia Del Giovane
Nov 3, 2021·European Journal of Immunology·Lucy Ryan, Kingston H G Mills

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