Reply To: Rituximab

Karen:
My Oncologist and Neuro both agree that the Rituxan has the potential to either improve symptoms significantly or even induce a remission. They also agree that next dose will be determined by: 1) response (since there is a possibility of no response at all) and 2) duration of effects. They both have patients that have gone in remission with a single dose, as well as other “responders’ that receive infusions anywhere from 6 months to 2 years. They also agree that Rituxan is quite safe and is effective inmunosupression for CIDP in certain patients. Specially those of us who do not respond or have too many side effects with the more common treatments.
I was tested for clonal white cells and B cells. No anomalies where found, but they still thought Rituxan was a good choice since response doesn’t seem to be related to any particular type of CIDP ( their opinion ). I did receive, on every infusion 50 mg Benadryl, Zantac and 20mg Decadron prior to the Rituxan. Also weekly CBCs day before Rituxan. I met few other patients receiving Rituxan, and all seemed to have essentially no side effects. Of course it works differently for different individuals.
Feel free to compare notes.
Rick