Evidence map›Paper›PMID 33827962›Full record

Observational studyNeurology2021

Modulation of Retinal Atrophy With Rituximab in Multiple Sclerosis.

Jeffrey Lambe, Hunter Risher, Angeliki G Filippatou, Olwen C Murphy, Elias S Sotirchos, Henrik Ehrhardt, Esther Ogbuokiri, Nicole Pellegrini, Brandon Toliver, Nicholas J Luciano and 7 more

Open access · greenAbstract readObservational Study

PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher

In one paragraph

Observational study in Neurology, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 9 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it

0cells of the map it votes in

9citing papers in PubMed

1.7field-weighted citation impact, top 17% of its field

1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

9 citing papers in PubMed, 15 citations in OpenAlex.

Effects of Ibudilast on Retinal Atrophy in Progressive Multiple Sclerosis Subtypes: Post Hoc Analyses of the SPRINT-MS Trial.Neurology · 2023
Trial
Autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation stabilizes retinal atrophy in multiple sclerosis.Brain communications · 2026
Article
Effect of Different Treatments on Retinal Thickness Changes in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis: A Review.CNS neuroscience & therapeutics · 2025
Review
Retinal imaging with optical coherence tomography in multiple sclerosis: novel aspects.Wiener medizinische Wochenschrift (1946) · 2022
Review
Differences in Age-related Retinal and Cortical Atrophy Rates in Multiple Sclerosis.Neurology · 2022
Article
Optical Coherence Tomography in Chronic Relapsing Inflammatory Optic Neuropathy, Neuromyelitis Optica and Multiple Sclerosis: A Comparative Study.Brain sciences · 2022
Article
T Cell-Mediated Autoimmunity in Glaucoma Neurodegeneration.Frontiers in immunology · 2021
Review
Effect of ocrelizumab on rates of retinal atrophy in relapsing multiple sclerosis.Multiple sclerosis journal - experimental, translational and clinical
Article
Retinal atrophy in multiple sclerosis is similar with extended versus standard interval natalizumab therapy.Multiple sclerosis journal - experimental, translational and clinical
Article

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

Commented on by
Is OCT a Viable Tool to Monitor Disease-Modifying Treatments in RRMS Yet?2021

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

17 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Jeffrey LambeFrom the Department of Neurology (J.L., H.R., A.G.F., O.C.M., E.S.S., H.E., E.O., N.P., B.T., N.J.L., S.D., N.F., O.K., P.A.C., K.C.F., S.S.), Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; and Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (J.L.P.), Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD.ORCID 0000-0002-3306-0988

Hunter RisherFrom the Department of Neurology (J.L., H.R., A.G.F., O.C.M., E.S.S., H.E., E.O., N.P., B.T., N.J.L., S.D., N.F., O.K., P.A.C., K.C.F., S.S.), Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; and Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (J.L.P.), Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD.

Angeliki G FilippatouFrom the Department of Neurology (J.L., H.R., A.G.F., O.C.M., E.S.S., H.E., E.O., N.P., B.T., N.J.L., S.D., N.F., O.K., P.A.C., K.C.F., S.S.), Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; and Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (J.L.P.), Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD.ORCID 0000-0003-0419-233X

Olwen C MurphyFrom the Department of Neurology (J.L., H.R., A.G.F., O.C.M., E.S.S., H.E., E.O., N.P., B.T., N.J.L., S.D., N.F., O.K., P.A.C., K.C.F., S.S.), Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; and Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (J.L.P.), Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD.ORCID 0000-0001-7880-8948

Elias S SotirchosFrom the Department of Neurology (J.L., H.R., A.G.F., O.C.M., E.S.S., H.E., E.O., N.P., B.T., N.J.L., S.D., N.F., O.K., P.A.C., K.C.F., S.S.), Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; and Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (J.L.P.), Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD.ORCID 0000-0002-8812-1637

Henrik EhrhardtFrom the Department of Neurology (J.L., H.R., A.G.F., O.C.M., E.S.S., H.E., E.O., N.P., B.T., N.J.L., S.D., N.F., O.K., P.A.C., K.C.F., S.S.), Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; and Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (J.L.P.), Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD.

Esther OgbuokiriFrom the Department of Neurology (J.L., H.R., A.G.F., O.C.M., E.S.S., H.E., E.O., N.P., B.T., N.J.L., S.D., N.F., O.K., P.A.C., K.C.F., S.S.), Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; and Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (J.L.P.), Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD.

Nicole PellegriniFrom the Department of Neurology (J.L., H.R., A.G.F., O.C.M., E.S.S., H.E., E.O., N.P., B.T., N.J.L., S.D., N.F., O.K., P.A.C., K.C.F., S.S.), Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; and Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (J.L.P.), Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD.

Brandon ToliverFrom the Department of Neurology (J.L., H.R., A.G.F., O.C.M., E.S.S., H.E., E.O., N.P., B.T., N.J.L., S.D., N.F., O.K., P.A.C., K.C.F., S.S.), Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; and Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (J.L.P.), Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD.

Nicholas J LucianoFrom the Department of Neurology (J.L., H.R., A.G.F., O.C.M., E.S.S., H.E., E.O., N.P., B.T., N.J.L., S.D., N.F., O.K., P.A.C., K.C.F., S.S.), Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; and Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (J.L.P.), Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD.

Simidele DavisFrom the Department of Neurology (J.L., H.R., A.G.F., O.C.M., E.S.S., H.E., E.O., N.P., B.T., N.J.L., S.D., N.F., O.K., P.A.C., K.C.F., S.S.), Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; and Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (J.L.P.), Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD.

Nicholas FioravanteFrom the Department of Neurology (J.L., H.R., A.G.F., O.C.M., E.S.S., H.E., E.O., N.P., B.T., N.J.L., S.D., N.F., O.K., P.A.C., K.C.F., S.S.), Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; and Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (J.L.P.), Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD.

Ohemaa KwakyiFrom the Department of Neurology (J.L., H.R., A.G.F., O.C.M., E.S.S., H.E., E.O., N.P., B.T., N.J.L., S.D., N.F., O.K., P.A.C., K.C.F., S.S.), Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; and Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (J.L.P.), Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD.

Jerry L PrinceFrom the Department of Neurology (J.L., H.R., A.G.F., O.C.M., E.S.S., H.E., E.O., N.P., B.T., N.J.L., S.D., N.F., O.K., P.A.C., K.C.F., S.S.), Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; and Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (J.L.P.), Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD.ORCID 0000-0002-6553-0876

Peter A CalabresiFrom the Department of Neurology (J.L., H.R., A.G.F., O.C.M., E.S.S., H.E., E.O., N.P., B.T., N.J.L., S.D., N.F., O.K., P.A.C., K.C.F., S.S.), Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; and Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (J.L.P.), Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD.ORCID 0000-0002-7776-6472

Kathryn C FitzgeraldFrom the Department of Neurology (J.L., H.R., A.G.F., O.C.M., E.S.S., H.E., E.O., N.P., B.T., N.J.L., S.D., N.F., O.K., P.A.C., K.C.F., S.S.), Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; and Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (J.L.P.), Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD. fitzgerald@jhmi.edu ssaidha2@jhmi.edu.ORCID 0000-0003-3137-0322

Shiv SaidhaFrom the Department of Neurology (J.L., H.R., A.G.F., O.C.M., E.S.S., H.E., E.O., N.P., B.T., N.J.L., S.D., N.F., O.K., P.A.C., K.C.F., S.S.), Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; and Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (J.L.P.), Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD. fitzgerald@jhmi.edu ssaidha2@jhmi.edu.ORCID 0000-0001-6387-0714

Johns Hopkins University · US

Funding

Imaging Neurodegeneration in Multiple SclerosisR01NS082347 · NINDS · JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY · PI PETER A CALABRESI, Shiv Saidha · 2013 to 2026

$7.0M

OCT and OCTA image processing for retinal assessment of people with MSR01EY032284 · NEI · JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY · PI PRINCE, JERRY L · 2021 to 2024

$1.8M

Circadian Rhythms and Sleep, Structural Neuroimaging and Depression in People with Multiple SclerosisK01MH121582 · NIMH · JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY · PI FITZGERALD, KATHRYN C. · 2019 to 2022

$675k

NEI NIH HHS R01 EY032284NIMH NIH HHS K01 MH121582NINDS NIH HHS R01 NS082347

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveTo investigate the effects of rituximab on retinal atrophy in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), we performed serial optical coherence tomography (OCT) scans among a cohort of patients with RRMS on rituximab and compared rates of ganglion cell + inner plexiform layer (GCIPL) atrophy to those observed among age- and sex-matched glatiramer acetate (GA)-and natalizumab-treated patients with RRMS and healthy controls (HCs).

methodsIn this observational study, patients with RRMS treated with a single disease-modifying therapy and HCs were followed with serial OCT for a median duration of 2.8 years. Participants with uncontrolled hypertension, diabetes mellitus, or glaucoma, and eyes with optic neuritis ≤6 months prior to baseline OCT, or during follow-up, were excluded. Statistical analyses were performed using linear mixed-effects regression.

resultsDuring the overall follow-up period, rates of GCIPL atrophy were -0.28 ± 0.11 µm/y among rituximab-treated patients with RRMS (n = 35). This was similar to GA-treated (n = 49; -0.33 ± 0.05 µm/y;

conclusionsRetinal atrophy in RRMS is modulated by rituximab. Greater attenuation of retinal atrophy may occur after 12 months of rituximab treatment, following which time GCIPL atrophy rates are similar to those observed among natalizumab-treated patients with RRMS and HCs. Our findings raise the possibility that the neuroprotective therapeutic response with rituximab in RRMS may take up to 12 months, which should be confirmed by larger studies. CLASSIFICATION OF EVIDENCE: This study provides Class IV evidence on the difference in rate of change of the GCIPL thickness in patients with RRMS comparing rituximab to other disease-modifying therapies.

Indexed as

AdultAtrophyCase-Control StudiesFemaleGlatiramer AcetateHumansImmunologic FactorsImmunosuppressive AgentsMaleMiddle AgedMultiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-RemittingNatalizumabRetinaRetinal DegenerationRetinal Ganglion CellsRituximabGlatiramer AcetateImmunologic FactorsImmunosuppressive AgentsNatalizumabRituximab

Identifiers

PMID33827962

DOI10.1212/WNL.0000000000011933

PMCPMC8205480

OpenAlexW3151794295

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata

Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.