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J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 76:999-1001 doi:10.1136/jnnp.2004.051144
  • Short report

Treatment of stiff person syndrome with rituximab

  1. M R Baker1,
  2. M Das1,
  3. J Isaacs3,
  4. P R W Fawcett2,
  5. D Bates1
  1. 1Department of Neurology, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
  2. 2Department of Neurophysiology, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
  3. 3Department of Rheumatology, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
  1. Correspondence to:
 Prof D Bates
 Department of Neurology, Royal Victoria Infirmary Queen Victoria Road, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 4LP, UK; david.batesncl.ac.uk
  • Received 3 August 2004
  • Accepted 26 September 2004
  • Revised 24 September 2004

Abstract

This case report is about the novel use of the anti-CD20 antibody, rituximab, in the treatment of a 41 year old woman with stiff person syndrome. She was admitted to hospital as an emergency with prolonged and painful extensor spasms affecting the neck and back, arms, and legs. The disease had progressed despite a favourable initial response to conventional treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin and cytotoxics. Treatment with rituximab induced a lasting clinical remission.

Footnotes

  • Competing interests: none declared