Rituximab is proving to be an effective background treatment for MG, including in children

Rituximab is an injectable monoclonal antibody that depletes B lymphocytesC’est une catégorie de globules blancs. Ces petites cellules au noyau arrondi et volumineux sont impliquées dans les aspects spécifiques des réactions immunitaires. Il existe deux catégories de lymphocytes les lymphocytes B (qui secrètent les anticorps) et les lymphocytes T. (CD20+); it is increasingly used in autoimmune diseases, including myasthenia.

A Spanish study confirmed its clinical efficacy in 30 adult patients.

• The authors emphasize the risk of hypogammaglobulinemia after treatment.

Another multicenter study conducted in the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Australia, and Germany focused on pediatric forms (JMG for Juvenile Myasthenia Gravis) treated with rittuximab.

• The results of 10 treated children or adolescents were analyzed.
• The clinical efficacy was confirmed at the cost of some immuno-allergic skin reactions.

In both articles, the authors insist on the need to reserve this background treatment for moderate to severe forms of refractory myasthenia.

Rituximab in juvenile myasthenia gravis-an international cohort study and literature review. Ramdas S, Della Marina A, Ryan MM et al. Eur J Paediatr Neurol. 2022 Jun 25;40:5-10.

 

Rituximab in myasthenia gravis: efficacy, associated infections and risk of induced hypogammaglobulinemia. Caballero-Ávila M, Álvarez-Velasco R, Moga E et al. Neuromuscul Disord. 2022 Aug;32(8):664-671.