Rinsho Shinkeigaku (Clinical Neurology)

Case Report

Beneficial effects of rituximab in a case of anti-myelin antibody-associated neuropathy

Takashi Shimoyama, M.D., Hiroshi Yaguchi, M.D., Renpei Sengoku, M.D., Hiromasa Matsuno, M.D., Hidetaka Mitsumura, M.D., Yu Kono, M.D. and Soichiro Mochio, M.D.

Department of Neurology, The Jikei University School of Medicine

We report here in a 61-year-old woman in whom sensory disturbance predominantly affecting the distal portion of the limbs progressed over the course of 1 year. Blood tests showed IgM monoclonal gammopathy as well as the presence of anti-myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG) antibody. Nerve conduction studies revealed significant prolongation of distal latency, and sural nerve biopsy showed IgM deposition on the myelin sheath. She was diagnosed as suffering anti-MAG neuropathy. High-dose intravenous immunoglobulin therapy proved to be ineffective and her symptoms progressed. Therefore, rituximab was administered and the sensory disturbance improved. Although no detailed studies on rituximab therapy for anti-MAG neuropathy have been reported in Japan, the present findings suggest that rituximab may be more effective than immunoglobulin therapy and other conventional therapies that have been used for autoimmune neuropathies.
Full Text of this Article in Japanese PDF (562K)

(CLINICA NEUROL, 51: 345|349, 2011)
key words: peripheral neuropathy, monoclonal immunoglobulinemia, anti-myelin-associated glycoprotein antibodies, Rituximab

(Received: 29-Dec-10)