A Pilot Study of the Use of Rituximab in the Treatment of Chronic Focal Encephalitis

Summary

The purpose of this study is to assess the safety, tolerability and effectiveness of rituximab in the treatment of chronic focal encephalitis.

Timeline

Start

2005-01

Primary completion

2008-12

Completion

2008-12

Publications

• Background Baranzini SE, Laxer K, Bollen A, Oksenberg JR. Gene expression analysis reveals altered brain transcription of glutamate receptors and inflammatory genes in a patient with chronic focal (Rasmussen's) encephalitis. J Neuroimmunol. 2002 Jul;128(1-2):9-15. doi: 10.1016/s0165-5728(02)00109-1.
• Background Prayson RA, Frater JL. Rasmussen encephalitis: a clinicopathologic and immunohistochemical study of seven patients. Am J Clin Pathol. 2002 May;117(5):776-82. doi: 10.1309/AD8R-560C-4V11-C5E2.
• Background Baranzini SE, Laxer K, Saketkhoo R, Elkins MK, Parent JM, Mantegazza R, Oksenberg JR. Analysis of antibody gene rearrangement, usage, and specificity in chronic focal encephalitis. Neurology. 2002 Mar 12;58(5):709-16. doi: 10.1212/wnl.58.5.709.
• Background Whitney KD, Andrews PI, McNamara JO. Immunoglobulin G and complement immunoreactivity in the cerebral cortex of patients with Rasmussen's encephalitis. Neurology. 1999 Sep 11;53(4):699-708. doi: 10.1212/wnl.53.4.699.
• Background Prayson RA, Bingaman W, Frater JL, Wyllie E. Histopathologic findings in 37 cases of functional hemispherectomy. Ann Diagn Pathol. 1999 Aug;3(4):205-12. doi: 10.1016/s1092-9134(99)80052-5.
• Background Li Y, Uccelli A, Laxer KD, Jeong MC, Vinters HV, Tourtellotte WW, Hauser SL, Oksenberg JR. Local-clonal expansion of infiltrating T lymphocytes in chronic encephalitis of Rasmussen. J Immunol. 1997 Feb 1;158(3):1428-37.
• Background Hart YM, Cortez M, Andermann F, Hwang P, Fish DR, Dulac O, Silver K, Fejerman N, Cross H, Sherwin A, et al. Medical treatment of Rasmussen's syndrome (chronic encephalitis and epilepsy): effect of high-dose steroids or immunoglobulins in 19 patients. Neurology. 1994 Jun;44(6):1030-6. doi: 10.1212/wnl.44.6.1030.
• Background Rasmussen T. Further observations on the syndrome of chronic encephalitis and epilepsy. Appl Neurophysiol. 1978;41(1-4):1-12. doi: 10.1159/000102395.

Drugs

Indications