Rituximab in Thyroid Associated Orbitopathy (early report)

[helvella]

Very early report on use of rituximab in Thyroid Associated Orbitopathy (also known as Graves' Eye Disease, and various other names).

That this approach appears to work is itself of interest. Also, while not wanting to be negative, it might be some time before this approach gets out of Italy and beyond trials. There is also plenty of opportunity for other reasons to choose alternatives to appear.

Minerva Endocrinol. 2013 Jun;38(2):173-9.

Intraorbital injection of rituximab: a new approach for active thyroid-associated orbitopathy, a prospective case series.

Savino G, Balia L, Colucci D, Battendieri R, Gari M, Corsello SM, Pontecorvi A, Dickmann A.

Source

Institute of Ophthalmology , Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy - [e-mail].

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this paper was to examine the efficacy and the safety of intraorbital administration of the monoclonal anti-CD20 antibody rituximab (RTX) to treat patients affected by thyroid-associated orbitopathy (TAO) unresponsive to conventional therapy.

Methods: Five patients with active moderately-severe TAO unresponsive to systemic glucocorticoids were studied. After a complete ophthalmological examination, disease activity and severity were assessed by the clinical activity score (CAS) and the NO SPECS scoring system. Computed tomography scans were performed in all patients. Patients were treated with intraorbital injection of RTX 10 mg once a week for one month repeated once one month apart. The patients were followed every three months until 18 months.

Results: In all patients treated with RTX, CAS was significantly reduced (p< 0,005), inactive phase of TAO was reached in four out of five patients. No patients experienced major side effects, minor side effects were reported in two patients.

Conclusion: Intraorbital injection of RTX is a safe and useful promising therapeutic option for active TAO.

PMID:

23732371

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/237...

For your information. cost is not too bad (well, not as bad as some things). British National Formulary says this:

MabThera® (Roche) Prescription only medicine

Concentrate for intravenous infusion, rituximab 10 mg/mL, net price 10-mL vial = £174.63, 50-mL vial = £873.15

medicinescomplete.com/mc/bn...

Free registration is required.

Rod

Image came from here:

niaid.nih.gov/topics/immune...

[Hidden]

Thanks AGAIN Rod you are amazing at finding good information.

[Hidden]

There have been some encouraging trials in Norway using Rituximab to treat ME – see for example investinme.org/InfoCentre-L...

There is also the possibility of a trial in the UK at some stage in the future -

investinme.org/IIME%20State...

Hazel.

oneagleswings.me.uk

oneagleswingsme.blogspot.com/

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for pointing that out.

Rod