J Clin Neurosci. 2016 Apr;26:168-70. doi: 10.1016/j.jocn.2015.08.033. Epub 2015 Dec 15.
Dai Y1, Lu T1, Wang Y1, Fang L1, Li R1, Kermode AG2, Qiu W3.
Studies have shown the efficacy of immunosuppressants against neuromyelitis optica (NMO). Rituximab is recommended as an off-label prescription to treat refractory NMO. However, we describe two such patients who were suboptimally responsive to rituximab and whose symptoms worsened after treatment. Our cautionary cases highlight that in a small proportion of patients with refractory NMO, rituximab may either fail or induce rapid relapse of NMO. This suggests we need to consider new treatment strategies for refractory NMO.
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