Hsv and autoimmune E

[Majaa]

Hello. My brother is finally receiving his first dose of immunotherapy tomorrow, the medicine in question is rituximab. What kind of change can I expect after that?

Should we insist on something else?

[RainthenSun11]

Hi majaa, hope you are going ok.. Has your brother had any ivig yet or steroids? From what I understand rituximab is a second line treatment?

[Majaa in reply to RainthenSun11]

No, nothing but acyclovir for Hsv1. This is his first therapy for autoimmune encephalitis.

He was diagnosed 40 days ago, and since then we have been waiting for the drug to be approved, for it to pass the commissions... Today he is receiving his first dose.

[NebraskaTexas]

Majaa, I'm sorry to hear you that your brother is going through this.

My husband has NMDA Receptor Encephalitis and was given Rituximab. He had 3 infusions. I remember the doctor and the physician assistant making it very clear, once he received this infusion, my husband would not have an immune system. It would gradually come back and then another dose of Rituximab again. This would go for every six months. After the third infusion the Rituximab did not last the full 6 months, his encephalitis return, and we went to another treatment called Cytoxan.

Please remember everyone is different, so therefore everyone recovery is different.

I hope this helps.