Short-term combination of glatiramer acetate with IV steroid treatment preceding treatment with GA alone assessed by MRI-disease activity in patients with relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis

2008 ◽  
Vol 266 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 44-50 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicola De Stefano ◽  
Massimo Filippi ◽  
Clive Hawkins
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Disease Activity ◽  
Glatiramer Acetate ◽  
Steroid Treatment ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Relapsing Remitting ◽  
Remitting Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis

scholarly journals Discontinuation and dose reduction of rituximab in relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Malin Boremalm ◽  
Peter Sundström ◽  
Jonatan Salzer
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Disease Activity ◽  
Dose Reduction ◽  
Inflammatory Disease ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
Full Dose ◽  
Reduced Dose ◽  
Relapsing Remitting ◽  
Remitting Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis

Abstract Background Rituximab is safe and effective for treating relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) according to phase II and observational studies. There are limited data on disease activity after discontinuation and dose reduction. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects on inflammatory disease activity after discontinuation or dose reduction of rituximab in patients with RRMS or clinically isolated syndrome (CIS). Methods In this retrospective observational study, we included all RRMS and CIS patients ever treated with rituximab at the University Hospital of Umeå who had either; (1) discontinued treatment at any time or (2) reduced the dose to a mean of < 1000 mg yearly. The patients served as their own controls by contributing patient years on full dose, reduced dose, and off treatment. Results A total of 225 patients treated with mean (SD) 6256 (2456) mg rituximab during mean (SD) 6.5 (2.0) years were included. There were no differences regarding the annualized relapse rates during full dose versus reduced dose or off treatment (0.02 versus < 0.01 and 0.02, p = 0.09), neither regarding proportion MRI scans with new or enlarged T2 lesions (0.03 versus 0.01 and 0.03, p = 0.37) or contrast-enhancing lesions (< 0.01 versus 0 and 0.02, p = 0.22). Conclusions This study indicates that rituximab has long-term effects on inflammatory disease activity and that disease reactivation is rare in MS patients who discontinued treatment for any reason. It also suggests that treatment with low-dose rituximab (< 1000 mg yearly) is sufficient to maintain suppression of inflammatory disease activity in patients with stable disease.

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