Comparison of Clinical Effects of Azathioprine and Rituximab NMO-SD Patients

Summary

The purpose of this study is to compare annual relapse rate, expanded disability status scale, and side effects of azathioprine and rituximab in patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder during a one year follow up through a randomized clinical trial.

Timeline

Start

2015-09

Primary completion

2016-11

Completion

2016-12

Outcome

Met primary endpoint

paper ARR after intervention minus ARR before intervention [mean (SD)] was 1.09 (0.72) in RIT group and 0.49 (0.59) in AZA group (P value <0.001). PMID 28831548 ↗

paper RIT was significantly more effective than AZA treatment. PMID 28831548 ↗

Publications

• Background Sato DK, Lana-Peixoto MA, Fujihara K, de Seze J. Clinical spectrum and treatment of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders: evolution and current status. Brain Pathol. 2013 Nov;23(6):647-60. doi: 10.1111/bpa.12087.
• Background Morrow MJ, Wingerchuk D. Neuromyelitis optica. J Neuroophthalmol. 2012 Jun;32(2):154-66. doi: 10.1097/WNO.0b013e31825662f1.
• Background Costanzi C, Matiello M, Lucchinetti CF, Weinshenker BG, Pittock SJ, Mandrekar J, Thapa P, McKeon A. Azathioprine: tolerability, efficacy, and predictors of benefit in neuromyelitis optica. Neurology. 2011 Aug 16;77(7):659-66. doi: 10.1212/WNL.0b013e31822a2780. Epub 2011 Aug 3.
• Background Trebst C, Jarius S, Berthele A, Paul F, Schippling S, Wildemann B, Borisow N, Kleiter I, Aktas O, Kumpfel T; Neuromyelitis Optica Study Group (NEMOS). Update on the diagnosis and treatment of neuromyelitis optica: recommendations of the Neuromyelitis Optica Study Group (NEMOS). J Neurol. 2014 Jan;261(1):1-16. doi: 10.1007/s00415-013-7169-7. Epub 2013 Nov 23.
• Background Kim SH, Huh SY, Lee SJ, Joung A, Kim HJ. A 5-year follow-up of rituximab treatment in patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder. JAMA Neurol. 2013 Sep 1;70(9):1110-7. doi: 10.1001/jamaneurol.2013.3071.
• Background Katz Sand I. Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorders. Continuum (Minneap Minn). 2016 Jun;22(3):864-96. doi: 10.1212/CON.0000000000000337.
• Nikoo Z, Badihian S, Shaygannejad V, Asgari N, Ashtari F. Comparison of the efficacy of azathioprine and rituximab in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder: a randomized clinical trial. J Neurol. 2017 Sep;264(9):2003-2009. doi: 10.1007/s00415-017-8590-0. Epub 2017 Aug 22.

Drugs

Evaluation	Drug	Modality	Dose	Route
Subject	Azathioprine	Small molecule	3 g	Oral
Subject	Rituximab	Monoclonal antibody	1 g	Intravenous

Indications