Evidence map›Paper›PMID 35024160›Full record

ArticleMultiple sclerosis journal - experimental, translational and clinical

Tolerability and Safety of Switching from Rituximab to Ocrelizumab: Evaluating Factors Associated with Infusion Related Reactions.

Enrique Alvarez, Kavita V Nair, Stefan Sillau, Ian Shelton, Rebecca Seale, Sean Selva, John Corboy, Timothy L Vollmer

Open access · goldAbstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Multiple sclerosis journal - experimental, translational and clinical. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 9 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
9citing papers in PubMed, 3 pooled it
0.6field-weighted citation impact, top 36% 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, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 8 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Rituximab for people with multiple sclerosis.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2025
    Pooled it
  3. Rituximab for people with multiple sclerosis.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2021
    Pooled it
  4. Review
  5. Review
  6. Review
  7. Review
  8. Review
  9. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Enrique AlvarezDepartment of Neurology, University of Colorado, and Rocky Mountain Multiple Sclerosis Center at the University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA.
Kavita V NairDepartment of Neurology, University of Colorado, and Rocky Mountain Multiple Sclerosis Center at the University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA.
Stefan SillauDepartment of Neurology, University of Colorado, and Rocky Mountain Multiple Sclerosis Center at the University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA.
Ian SheltonDepartment of Neurology, University of Colorado, and Rocky Mountain Multiple Sclerosis Center at the University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA.
Rebecca SealeDepartment of Neurology, University of Colorado, and Rocky Mountain Multiple Sclerosis Center at the University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6855-6329
Sean SelvaDepartment of Neurology, University of Colorado, and Rocky Mountain Multiple Sclerosis Center at the University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA.
John CorboyDepartment of Neurology, University of Colorado, and Rocky Mountain Multiple Sclerosis Center at the University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA.
Timothy L VollmerDepartment of Neurology, University of Colorado, and Rocky Mountain Multiple Sclerosis Center at the University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA.
Rocky Mountain MS Center · US

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundOcrelizumab and rituximab are frequently used treatments for multiple sclerosis (MS). Data on switching from rituximab to ocrelizumab is limited.

objectivesTo assess the frequency, severity, and factors of infusion related reactions (IRRs) in patients with MS who switch from rituximab to ocrelizumab, compared to those who stay on rituximab.

methodsProspective study on MS patients aged 18-65, on rituximab for at least 2 cycles, who either switched to ocrelizumab (switch group) or stayed on rituximab (comparator group) (n = 100 each). Participants were followed for IRRs, safety, and tolerability over 12 months.

resultsThe proportion of IRRs in patients who continue on rituximab (14%) were similar to those who switched to ocrelizumab on Day 1 (14%; p = 1.000) and Week 24 (12%; p = 0.647) but higher than at Day 15 (4%; 0.005). The risk of IRRs for the switch group was associated with the presence of B cells (CD19 and/or CD20 counts ≥1%) increasing by 5.01 (1.49, 16.82) times on Day 1 (p = 0.007). Antidrug antibodies to ocrelizumab were not associated with IRRs. No other safety concerns were identified in switching to ocrelizumab.

conclusionIRRs are similar between both groups, which suggests that it is safe to switch from rituximab to ocrelizumab.

Indexed as

infusion reactionmultiple sclerosisocrevus

Identifiers

PMID35024160
PMCPMC8743958
OpenAlexW4205752982

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
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.