Utility and safety of rituximab in pediatric autoimmune and inflammatory CNS disease.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To assess the utility and safety of rituximab in pediatric autoimmune and inflammatory disorders of the CNS.

Methods

Multicenter retrospective study.

Results

A total of 144 children and adolescents (median age 8 years, range 0.7-17; 103 female) with NMDA receptor (NMDAR) encephalitis (n = 39), opsoclonus myoclonus ataxia syndrome (n = 32), neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (n = 20), neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus (n = 18), and other neuroinflammatory disorders (n = 35) were studied. Rituximab was given after a median duration of disease of 0.5 years (range 0.05-9.5 years). Infusion adverse events were recorded in 18/144 (12.5%), including grade 4 (anaphylaxis) in 3. Eleven patients (7.6%) had an infectious adverse event (AE), including 2

SUBMITTER: Dale RC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4117174 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature