Published in:
01-03-2022 | Multiple Sclerosis | Letter to the Editor
HSV encephalitis associated with off-label rituximab treatment of multiple sclerosis
Authors:
Federico Montini, Bruno Colombo, Antonino Giordano, Ingazio Diego Lopez, Lucia Moiola, Vittorio Martinelli, Massimo Filippi
Published in:
Neurological Sciences
|
Issue 3/2022
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Excerpt
B cell-depleting therapies are considered highly effective in the treatment of relapsing multiple sclerosis. However they can cause immune system dysfunction, leading to increased risk of infection [
1]. Apart from humoral immunity, B cells act as antigen-presenting cells and provoke T-Helper cell alterations. Ambulatory disability, prior immunosuppression, lymphopenia, and hypogammaglobulinemia are the most important risk factors for developing serious infection [
1‐
3], but even among normoglobulinemic patients treated with rituximab therapy, viral encephalitis should be considered when new neurological symptoms appear. A comprehensive long-lasting monitoring for infectious complications must be continuously performed [
4]. …