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       #Post#: 1648--------------------------------------------------
       Rituxan not exactly the same as Ocrevus
       By: agate Date: April 21, 2017, 1:07 am
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       According to this article in Multiple Sclerosis News Today
       (April 19, 2017), there are important differences between
       Rituxan and Ocrevus:
  HTML https://multiplesclerosisnewstoday.com/2017/04/19/ocrevus-and-rituxan-and-differences-neurologists-respond-to-ms-patients-concerns/
  HTML https://multiplesclerosisnewstoday.com/2017/04/19/ocrevus-and-rituxan-and-differences-neurologists-respond-to-ms-patients-concerns/
       #Post#: 1723--------------------------------------------------
       (Abst.) Experience w/long-term rituximab use in an MS clinic
       By: agate Date: June 14, 2017, 2:35 pm
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       More about Rituxan, though not in comparison with Ocrevus.
       From PubMed, June 14, 2017:
       [quote]Mult Scler J Exp Transl Clin. 2016 Oct
       9;2:2055217316672100.
       Experience with long-term rituximab use in a multiple sclerosis
       clinic
       Barra ME1, Soni D1, Vo KH1, Chitnis T2, Stankiewicz JM2.
       Author information
       1
       Department of Pharmacy, Brigham and Women's Hospital, USA.
       2
       Partners MS Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, USA.
       BACKGROUND:
       Rituximab is a monoclonal antibody directed at CD20 positive
       B-lymphocytes and a potential therapeutic option in the
       treatment of multiple sclerosis. The safety of recurrent dosing
       is not established.
       OBJECTIVES:
       The objective of this work was to report the experience of
       long-term rituximab administration in a comprehensive multiple
       sclerosis care clinic.
       METHODS:
       This was a single-center retrospective observational analysis of
       patients receiving rituximab for the treatment of multiple
       sclerosis from 2004 to 2015. Different dosing regimens were
       reviewed to determine whether frequency or dose may affect
       safety. CD19 and CD20 counts were collected to evaluate B-cell
       suppression during therapy. Relapses, magnetic resonance imaging
       activity and rituximab-related adverse events were collected by
       chart review and prospective database entry.
       RESULTS:
       Of 107 patients included, the average duration of treatment was
       33.2 months. Seventy-seven patients received recurrent rituximab
       dosing after initiation. CD19/20 reconstitution occurred in
       approximately 20% of patients at 6 months, regardless of dosing
       strategy. Despite CD19/20 counts of 0, three patients had
       relapses or magnetic resonance imaging activity. Mostly mild
       side effects in relation to therapy were seen, with the
       exception of three patients requiring hospitalization for
       urinary tract infections.
       CONCLUSIONS:
       In our clinic population, rituximab was well tolerated and safe
       with recurrent administration.[/quote]
  HTML https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28607739
  HTML https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28607739
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