RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Efficacy and safety of rituximab in patients with multiple sclerosis
JF Neurosciences Journal
JO Neurosciences (Riyadh)
FD Prince Sultan Military Medical City
SP 65
OP 70
DO 10.17712/nsj.2022.2.20210122
VO 27
IS 2
A1 Almatrafi, Yassir M.
A1 Babakkor, Mohammed A.
A1 Irfan, Muhammed
A1 Samkari, Ebaa T.
A1 Alzahrani, Waleed M.
A1 Mohorjy, Doaa K.
A1 Zahoor, Sarmad
A1 Farooq, Muhammad T.
A1 Sajid Jehangir, Hafiz M.
YR 2022
UL http://nsj.org.sa/content/27/2/65.abstract
AB Objectives: To assess the efficacy and safety of rituximab for multiple sclerosis (MS) treatment in terms of reduction in clinical relapses, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) activity, Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score and adverse events.Methods: This is a retrospective cross-sectional study conducted at King Abdullah Medical City, from January 2017 to August 2021, involving patients with MS given rituximab, with 1-year follow-up. Clinical parameters were noted pre- and post-treatment to determine efficacy; adverse events were noted to analyze safety. A paired samples t-test was used to compare responses pre- and post-treatment. A p-value<0.05 was considered significant.Results: Among 31 patients, 6 (19.4%) had progressive MS, and 25 (80.6%) had relapsing-remitting MS (mean disease duration=8.12±5.65 years). The annual relapse rate reduced from 1.67±0.97 to 0.06±0.25 (p<0.001), the EDSS score from 3.16±2.14 to 2.80±2.28 (p=0.141) and the MRI activity score from 1.84±1.03 to 1.03±0.18 (p<0.001). Only one patient had enhancing lesion activity post-treatment. The commonest side effect was urinary tract infection (25.8%). Only 2 patients discontinued the drug.Conclusion: Rituximab is an efficient drug in reducing the annual relapse rate and MRI activity of patients with MS, with few tolerable side effects not leading to drug discontinuation or any lethal outcome.