| Abstrakt: |
Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMO-SD) is a rare, relapsing, autoimmune condition primarily targeting the optic nerves and spinal cord. The use of rituximab, a CD20 monoclonal antibody, is well-established in the management of NMO-SD due to its ability to deplete B-cells, B-cell repopulation following rituximab therapy typically occurs within 6–12 months To report a case of Aquaporin 4 + Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder case, in which CD19 count was persistently depleted for almost 3 years after the last dose of rituximab and remains clinically stable with no relapses, the patient received a total of 2 doses of rituximab. A case report along with literature review will be presented in a poster. A 28 year-old female diagnosed with NMO-SD on rituximab having persistent low count of CD19, No further doses given due to concerns of further immunosuppression and risk of infection. Patient is clinically stable with no further relapses however to protect her against future disabling relapses we decided to transition the patient to another class of therapy which is Ravulizumab, a complement C5 inhibitor. B-cell repopulation following rituximab therapy typically occurs up to 1 year following the infusion, Factors contributing to this prolonged depletion may include genetic predispositions, pharmacokinetic differences in rituximab metabolism, and prior immunosuppressive treatments. In our case the cause is unclear, despite this the patient needs to be put on effective therapy in order to reduce the risk of relapses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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