mycophenolic-acid and Spasm

This case report is about the novel use of the anti-CD20 antibody, rituximab, in the treatment of a 41 year old woman with stiff person syndrome. She was admitted to hospital as an emergency with prolonged and painful extensor spasms affecting the neck and back, arms, and legs. The disease had progressed despite a favourable initial response to conventional treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin and cytotoxics. Treatment with rituximab induced a lasting clinical remission.

Topics: Adult; Antibodies, Monoclonal; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; Antigens, CD20; Antineoplastic Agents; Autoantibodies; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Administration Schedule; Drug Therapy, Combination; Electromyography; Evoked Potentials, Motor; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Glutamate Decarboxylase; Humans; Immunization, Passive; Immunologic Factors; Infusions, Intravenous; Mycophenolic Acid; Parasympatholytics; Recurrence; Rituximab; Spasm; Stiff-Person Syndrome; Treatment Outcome