Annals of the rheumatic diseases 2011 Sep 16
Efficacy of rituximab in primary Sjogren's syndrome with peripheral nervous system involvement: results from the AIR registry.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate rituximab (RTX) in primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) with peripheral nervous system (PNS) involvement.
METHODS
Patients with pSS and PNS involvement who were included in the French AIR registry were analysed.
RESULTS
17 patients (age 60 years (44-78 years); 14 were female) were analysed. Neurological improvement was noted in 11 patients (65%) at 3 months. Rankin scale decreased from 3 (1-5) to 2 (1-5), 2 (1-5) and 2 (1-6) after 3, 6 and 9 months (p=0.02). European Sjögren's Syndrome Disease Activity Index decreased from 18 (10-44) to 11 (5-20), 11 (5-29) and 12 (5-30) after 3, 6 and 9 months (p<0.05). RTX was effective in neurological involvement in 9/10 patients with vasculitis or cryoglobulinaemia (90%) (group 1) at 3 months and in 2/7 cases (29%) without cryoglobulinaemia and vasculitis (p=0.03). Rankin and European Sjögren's Syndrome Disease Activity Index scales decreased significantly in group 1.
CONCLUSION
RTX seems effective in cryoglobulinaemia or vasculitis-related PNS involvement in pSS.
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