Efficacy of rituximab as second-line therapy for autoimmune encephalitis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Approximately 20%-50 % of individuals with autoimmune encephalitis (AE) demonstrate suboptimal responses to first-line therapies, leading to persistent neurological deficits and the need for second-line interventions. Although rituximab has shown potential as an alternative treatment in AE, the existing evidence remains insufficient. This study systematically evaluated and meta-analyzed the efficacy of rituximab in AE patients who either failed or exhibited inadequate responses to first-line treatments, aiming to refine and optimize therapeutic strategies for AE.

Methods

A comprehensive search of PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library databases was conducted, covering studies published up to June 10, 2024. In addition, manual cross-referencing of relevant studie

SUBMITTER: Zhang LM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11774780 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature