Another Failed Trial of Treatment for Myasthenia Gravis

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune disorder caused by autoantibodies, most commonly directed against acetylcholine receptors (AChRs). Reduction of antibody-producing B cells would be expected to provide benefit in MG. Rituximab reduces B cells, and numerous small series of patients with MG who benefited from rituximab treatment have been reported, with better outcomes in patients with muscle-specific kinase antibodies than those with AChR antibodies (Muscle Nerve 2017; 56:185). In this phase 2, multicenter, placebo-controlled, randomized trial, researchers tested the safety and efficacy of rituximab in reducing mean daily prednisone dose in 52 patients with AChR antibody–positive MG taking ≥15 mg/day of prednisone.

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