Rituximab for the Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis: A Retrospective Observational Cohort in Morocco

Abstract

Background: RITUXIMAB (RTX) is a chimeric anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody that has initially demonstrated efficacy in patients with B-cell lymphoma. Then, over time, it has demonstrated its efficacy in systemic inflammatory diseases and recently in neurological diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS). Here we describe our experience with rituximab from one MS center from MOROCCO. Objectives: To investigate the safety and efficacy of Rituximab in MS in a Moroccan population. Methods: A retrospective uncontrolled observational single-center study from January 2017 to July 2020, was including all off-label Rituximab-treated patients with MS with at least 6 months of follow-up. Outcome data were collected and evaluated relapse rate, EDSS score, and adverse events (AEs) from the medical charts. Adverse events grade according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events. Results: A total of 63 MS patients were treated with RTX, 47 patients were included, while 12 cases had just initiated treatment and 4 cases were lost to follow-up. The mean age of the patients was 39 ± 12 years with a female predominance (F/M: 1.6). All forms of MS were included, 83% of whom had relapsing-remitting MS. The duration of disease progression was 8 ± 5 years. Median EDSS before RTX initiation was 5.5 (0 -7). 51% of patients were treated with RTX as second-line therapy after failure of other disease-modifying therapies, whereas 34% received it as first-line therapy. The annualized relapse rates decreased from 0.8 to 0.2 after RTX treatment. The Median EDSS remained unchanged at 71%. Radiological stability was noted in 83.7%, while 13.5% had a single new T2 lesion.