Autoantibody-producing plasmablasts after B cell depletion identified in muscle-specific kinase myasthenia gravis
Stathopoulos P, Kumar A, Nowak RJ, O’Connor K. Autoantibody-producing plasmablasts after B cell depletion identified in muscle-specific kinase myasthenia gravis. JCI Insight 2017, 2: e94263. PMID: 28878127, PMCID: PMC5621905, DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.94263.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdultAgedAged, 80 and overAnimalsAutoantibodiesB-LymphocytesCohort StudiesFemaleHumansImmunologic FactorsLymphocyte DepletionMaleMiceMiddle AgedMyasthenia GravisReceptor Protein-Tyrosine KinasesReceptors, CholinergicRecurrenceRemission InductionRituximabTumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Superfamily, Member 7ConceptsB-cell depletionMuSK-MG patientsMyasthenia gravisCell depletionMG patientsAutoantibody productionDisease relapseB cellsB-cell-mediated autoimmune disordersMuscle-specific kinase myasthenia gravisAntigen-driven affinity maturationCell-mediated autoimmune disordersMuscle-specific tyrosine kinaseAChR myasthenia gravisAutoantibody-producing plasmablastsMuSK myasthenia gravisRituximab-induced remissionSustained clinical improvementB cell compartmentMuSK autoantibodiesClinical improvementPathogenic autoantibodiesSuch relapsesSerum autoantibodiesClinical featuresDurability of the Rituximab Response in Acetylcholine Receptor Autoantibody–Positive Myasthenia Gravis
Robeson KR, Kumar A, Keung B, DiCapua DB, Grodinsky E, Patwa HS, Stathopoulos PA, Goldstein JM, O’Connor K, Nowak RJ. Durability of the Rituximab Response in Acetylcholine Receptor Autoantibody–Positive Myasthenia Gravis. JAMA Neurology 2017, 74: 60-66. PMID: 27893014, DOI: 10.1001/jamaneurol.2016.4190.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsDurability of responseMyasthenia gravisRituximab treatmentAnti-AChR antibody levelsB cell-targeted therapiesLong-term clinical responseRetrospective case series studyTreatment of MGEvidence-based practice parametersLast rituximab treatmentRefractory myasthenia gravisSerum cytokine levelsComplete stable remissionSubset of patientsCase series studyMyasthenia Gravis FoundationMG clinicPharmacologic remissionRituximab cyclesSustained remissionAutoantibody levelsInflammatory markersRituximab therapyClinical improvementClinical response