• A Mekinian, P Ravaud, P Y Hatron, C Larroche, J Leone, B Gombert, M Hamidou, A Cantagrel, C Marcelli, S Rist, M Breban, D Launay, O Fain, J E Gottenberg, and X Mariette.
• Department of Internal Medicine, Hôpital Jean Verdier, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Université Paris-Sud 13, Bondy, France.
• Ann. Rheum. Dis. 2012 Jan 1; 71 (1): 84-7.

ObjectiveTo evaluate rituximab (RTX) in primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) with peripheral nervous system (PNS) involvement.MethodsPatients with pSS and PNS involvement who were included in the French AIR registry were analysed.Results17 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.ConclusionRTX seems effective in cryoglobulinaemia or vasculitis-related PNS involvement in pSS.

30 keywords...

hide…