Long-term B-lymphocyte depletion with rituximab in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.

OBJECTIVE: To describe 2 patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) receiving long-term treatment with the monoclonal antibody rituximab. The clinical and paraclinical efficacy of rituximab was demonstrated recently in a phase 2 clinical trial in patients with RRMS.

DESIGN: Case series.

SETTING: Tertiary care university medical center.

PATIENTS: Two young patients with highly active RRMS in whom standard therapy had failed before receiving rituximab for up to 48 months.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Relapse rate, clinical disability, and results of magnetic resonance imaging.

RESULTS: Both patients tolerated rituximab treatment well and have been clinically stable throughout the study period.

CONCLUSION: Long-term therapy with rituximab appears safe and effective in some patients with RRMS. Our observation should be confirmed in controlled long-term trials.