Efficacy of low dose rituximab in treatment-resistant CIDP with antibodies against NF-155

Abstract

We herein to describe the response and the potential treatment mechanism of low dose rituximab in patients with treatment-resistant chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) with antibodies against neurofascin-155 (NF-155). Patients received 100 mg rituximab once weekly for 4 weeks followed by 100 mg per month for 2 additional doses. Clinical function scores, Fahn- Tolosa-Marin Tremor Rating Scale (FTMTRS) and flow cytometry of peripheral blood were scheduled before and at 1, 3, 6 months after rituximab treatment. All clinical function score including MRC, INCAT, Hughes, mRS, ODSS and FTMTRS scores showed obvious improvement at the post-treatment follow-up 1,3,6 months in comparison with baseline values. The proportion of CD19 + CD27+, CD19 + CD38+ and CD138 in lymphocytes of all patients declined at 1,3,6 month and the proportion of CD19 + CD24hiCD38hi in one patient was increased at 6 months after rituximab treatment. Low dose rituximab can significant improve disease severity and disabling tremor of CIDP patients with anti-NF155 antibody by the powerful role of B cell depletion within six months and subsequent reestablishment of B-cell subsets including increasing regulatory B cells, inhibiting memory B cells and reducing plasmablasts.