Browse by author
Lookup NU author(s): Dr Anna MitchellORCiD, Dr Earn Gan, Christopher Neoh, Dr Alison Dickinson, Dr Petros Perros, Professor Simon PearceORCiD
Full text for this publication is not currently held within this repository. Alternative links are provided below where available.
Objective This case series documents the response of nine individuals with glucocorticoid-refractory Graves' orbitopathy (GO) to B cell depletion therapy with rituximab (RTX). Context Graves' disease (GD) is one of the commonest autoimmune conditions and is frequently associated with inflammatory changes around the eyes (GO). GO frequently results in significant functional visual impairment, and in the most severe cases, it can result in permanent loss of sight. RTX is a therapeutic monoclonal antibody, which targets cell-surface CD-20, resulting in depletion of circulating B lymphocytes. It has been found to be useful for the treatment of a number of autoimmune conditions including, in preliminary studies, GO. Design and Patients We have treated nine individuals (1 male, 8 female, age range 37-87 years) with glucocorticoid-resistant GO with RTX since 2008. RTX was administered in divided doses at fortnightly intervals, following 500 mg IV methylprednisolone pretreatment. Measurements Each patient underwent thorough assessment before and after RTX therapy, including thyroid function tests, B cell counts, thyroid autoantibody levels and detailed clinical assessment according to EUGOGO standard protocols. All patients have now been followed up for 16 months or more. Results There was a significant reduction in thyrotropin receptor binding inhibitory immunoglobulin (TBII) levels in all patients following RTX treatment and a reduction in the clinical activity score (CAS) was seen in all cases. We also report striking improvement in pretibial thyroid dermopathy in one patient following RTX. Conclusions This case series adds to the growing literature demonstrating that RTX, administered in our patients with concomitant methylprednisolone, is safe and clinically effective in the treatment of active, moderate to severe and sight-threatening GO. Randomized controlled trials are now needed to confirm the efficacy of RTX for GO.
Author(s): Mitchell AL, Gan EH, Morris M, Johnson K, Neoh C, Dickinson AJ, Perros P, Pearce SHS
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Clinical Endocrinology
Year: 2013
Volume: 79
Issue: 3
Pages: 437-442
Print publication date: 11/05/2013
ISSN (print): 0300-0664
ISSN (electronic): 1365-2265
Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/cen.12141
DOI: 10.1111/cen.12141
Altmetrics provided by Altmetric
