Differential response to rituximab in anti-AChR and anti-MuSK positive myasthenia gravis patients: a single-center retrospective study

Abstract

Background: B-cell targeted therapy with rituximab has shown durable response in treating refractory myasthenia gravis (MG). This study compares the response to rituximab between patients with acetylcholine receptor autoantibody positive (AChR+) and muscle-specific kinase autoantibody positive (MuSK+) MG. Methods: This retrospective study included 33 patients with either AChR+ or MuSK+ MG who were treated with rituximab from 05/31/2003 to 05/31/2017. Pretreatment and post-treatment immunotherapy regimens, clinical symptoms, and examination findings were evaluated. Results: Median MGFA Class of II at baseline improved to an asymptomatic median classification at 12-months and last follow-up (p-values