J Clin Immunol. 2012 Oct;32(5):1007-11. doi: 10.1007/s10875-012-9709-9. Epub 2012 May 30. Wang H, Wang K, Zhong X, Qiu W, Dai Y, Wu A, Hu X….
Wang H, Wang K, Zhong X, Qiu W, Dai Y, Wu A, Hu X. Source: Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University,…
Rituximab is increasingly used for prevention of relapses of neuromyelitis optica (NMO), a condition that is highly associated with serum anti-aquaporin-4 (AQP4) antibodies. However, B-cell depletion also induces systemic B-cell activating factor (BAFF), which may promote antibody production. We collected serial serum samples from a total of seven patients with NMO prior to, and following, treatment with rituximab
BACKGROUND: Anti-aquaporin-4 antibodies are believed to have a central pathogenetic role in neuromyelitis optica (NMO). B-cell activating factor (BAFF) is one of the crucial factors that determines the fate and survival of B cells and may play a role in induction of antibody-mediated autoimmunity. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of BAFF in NMO and multiple sclerosis (MS) patients
Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system characterized by severe demyelinating inflammatory attacks typically affecting the spinal cord and optic nerves. Anti-aquaporin-4(AQP4) serum autoantibodies are present in approximately 70% of NMO patients. Those antibodies probably are pathogenic and the titers are elevated during relapse as compared with those in remission