Rituximab

Rituximab (trade names Rituxan, MabThera and Zytux) is a chimeric monoclonal antibody against the protein CD20, which is primarily found on the surface of immune system B cells. Rituximab destroys B cells and is therefore used to treat diseases which are characterized by excessive numbers of B cells, overactive B cells, or dysfunctional B cells. This includes many lymphomas, leukemias, transplant rejection, and autoimmune disorders.

Rituximab is available since 1997 for the treatment of refractory systemic B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Intrathecally may be more effective for CD33 + lymphomas.

There is no specific treatment protocol for IgG4 related pachymeningitis. The first-line therapy is steroids and second-line is chemotherapy (methotrexate, azathioprine, etc.). We describe a patient with IgG4-related pachymeningitis in whom steroid use was contraindicated and methotrexate was ineffective. During the course of treatment, the patient presented to the emergency department with receptive and expressive aphasia, slurred speech, right-sided neglect, and loss of sensation. After a single infusion of rituximab and anticonvulsants, her symptoms resolved. Our unique case suggests that patients with IgG4-related pachymeningitis might benefit from early initiation of rituximab ¹⁾