Observational studyJournal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry2022
Eculizumab versus rituximab in generalised myasthenia gravis.
Observational study in Journal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 27 papers, 5 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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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.
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.
Who cites it
27 citing papers in PubMed, 5 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 42 citations in OpenAlex.
- Efficacy and safety of immunosuppressants and immunomodulators in juvenile myasthenia gravis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Journal of translational medicine · 2026Pooled it
- Efficacy and safety of different dosages of rituximab for myasthenia gravis: a single-arm meta-analysis.Daru : journal of Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences · 2025Pooled it
- Efficacy and safety of immunosuppressants and monoclonal antibodies in adults with myasthenia gravis: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.Journal of translational medicine · 2024Pooled it
- Pooled it
- Efficacy and safety of the innovative monoclonal antibodies in adults with generalized myasthenia gravis: a Bayesian network analysis.Frontiers in immunology · 2023Pooled it
- Targeting BLyS and APRIL with Telitacicept versus Conventional Immunotherapy in Generalized Myasthenia Gravis: A Comparative Study.ImmunoTargets and therapy · 2026Article
- C5 complement inhibition versus FcRn modulation in generalised myasthenia gravis.Journal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry · 2025Observational
- New and Emerging Biological Therapies for Myasthenia Gravis: A Focussed Review for Clinical Decision-Making.BioDrugs : clinical immunotherapeutics, biopharmaceuticals and gene therapy · 2025Review
- Telitacicept as double-targeted therapy for myasthenia gravis coexisting with connective tissue disease: three case reports.Frontiers in immunology · 2025Article
- Effects of eculizumab and rituximab on visual function, motor function and social quality in patients with NMOSD: a comparative study.Frontiers in neurology · 2025Article
- The role of complement in the immunopathogenesis of acetylcholine receptor antibody-positive generalized myasthenia gravis: bystander or key player?Frontiers in immunology · 2025Review
- Article
- Identification of disease phenotypes in acetylcholine receptor-antibody myasthenia gravis using proteomics-based consensus clustering.EBioMedicine · 2024Article
- Inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor heavy chain H3 is a potential biomarker for disease activity in myasthenia gravis.Acta neuropathologica · 2024Article
- Drug Use Patterns in Myasthenia Gravis: A Real-World Population-Based Cohort Study in Italy.Journal of clinical medicine · 2024Article
- Mendelian randomization and colocalization analysis reveal novel drug targets for myasthenia gravis.Human genomics · 2024Article
- Long-term efficacy and safety of leflunomide combined with low-dose prednisone in treatment of myasthenia gravis: a retrospective study.Acta neurologica Belgica · 2024Review
- Complement and MHC patterns can provide the diagnostic framework for inflammatory neuromuscular diseases.Acta neuropathologica · 2024Review
- Eculizumab in thymoma-associated myasthenia gravis: a real-world cohort study.Therapeutic advances in neurological disorders · 2024Article
- Myasthenia Gravis Treatment: From Old Drugs to Innovative Therapies with a Glimpse into the Future.CNS drugs · 2024Review
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
23 authors at 9 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectiveMyasthenia gravis (MG) is the most common autoimmune disorder affecting the neuromuscular junction. However, evidence shaping treatment decisions, particularly for treatment-refractory cases, is sparse. Both rituximab and eculizumab may be considered as therapeutic options for refractory MG after insufficient symptom control by standard immunosuppressive therapies.
methodsIn this retrospective observational study, we included 57 rituximab-treated and 20 eculizumab-treated patients with MG to compare the efficacy of treatment agents in generalised, therapy-refractory anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody (anti-AChR-ab)-mediated MG with an observation period of 24 months. Change in the quantitative myasthenia gravis (QMG) score was defined as the primary outcome parameter. Differences between groups were determined in an optimal full propensity score matching model.
resultsBoth groups were comparable in terms of clinical and demographic characteristics. Eculizumab was associated with a better outcome compared with rituximab, as measured by the change of the QMG score at 12 and 24 months of treatment. Minimal manifestation of disease was more frequently achieved in eculizumab-treated patients than rituximab-treated patients at 12 and 24 months after baseline. However, the risk of myasthenic crisis (MC) was not ameliorated in either group.
interpretationThis retrospective, observational study provides the first real-world evidence supporting the use of eculizumab for the treatment of refractory, anti-AChR-ab positive MG. Nonetheless, the risk of MC remained high and prompts the need for intensified monitoring and further research effort aimed at this vulnerable patient cohort.
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Registered trials
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.