Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39766493›Full record

ArticleBrain sciences2024

IgM Flare in Anti-MAG Neuropathy Post Rituximab Treatment: A Clinical Case and a Systematic Review of the Literature.

Giovanni Siconolfi, Francesca Vitali, Maria Ausilia Sciarrone, Michelangelo Ardito, Valeria Guglielmino, Angela Romano, Giuseppe Granata, Gabriella Silvestri, Marco Luigetti

Abstract readCase Reports
In one paragraph

Article in Brain sciences, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
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

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Review
  3. Acute onset anti-MAG neuropathy and paradoxical worsening to rituximab: a challenging case.Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology · 2025
    Article
  4. Article
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

9 authors.

Giovanni SiconolfiDipartimento Di Neuroscienze, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Sede Di Roma, 00168 Rome, Italy.
Francesca VitaliDipartimento Di Neuroscienze, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Sede Di Roma, 00168 Rome, Italy.
Maria Ausilia SciarroneDipartimento Di Neuroscienze, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Sede Di Roma, 00168 Rome, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-1490-0320
Michelangelo ArditoDipartimento Di Neuroscienze, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Sede Di Roma, 00168 Rome, Italy.
Valeria GuglielminoDipartimento Di Neuroscienze, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Sede Di Roma, 00168 Rome, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-9049-5988
Angela RomanoDipartimento Di Neuroscienze, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Sede Di Roma, 00168 Rome, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-2061-1509
Giuseppe GranataFondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, UOC Neurofisiopatologia, 00168 Rome, Italy.
Gabriella SilvestriDipartimento Di Neuroscienze, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Sede Di Roma, 00168 Rome, Italy.
Marco LuigettiDipartimento Di Neuroscienze, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Sede Di Roma, 00168 Rome, Italy.ORCID 0000-0001-7539-505X

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND/

objectivesAnti-MAG polyneuropathy is a demyelinating peripheral neuropathy associated with IgM monoclonal gammopathies, particularly MGUS (monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance) and Waldenström macroglobulinemia. It is characterized by a subacute onset of distal sensory symptoms, with distal motor dysfunction typically appearing only in the later stages of the disease. The condition is caused by the presence of autoantibodies directed against myelin-associated glycoprotein, a structural protein of myelin. This leads to abnormalities in electrophysiological studies, such as markedly delayed distal latencies without conduction blocks or temporal dispersion of potentials. While rituximab (RTX) is the primary treatment, its efficacy is limited, with improvement seen in only 30-50% of patients. Recently, acute worsening of symptoms after RTX treatment has been increasingly reported.

methodsThis systematic review compiles case reports and series from inception to June 2024 published on Scopus, PubMed or Cochrane, documenting acute exacerbations after RTX treatment in patients with anti-MAG polyneuropathy. Additionally, we present a case report from our institution that highlights this phenomenon.

resultsWe identified 13 clinical cases of acute deterioration in patients with anti-MAG polyneuropathy. Among these, eight patients (62%) achieved full recovery following additional treatment, while five patients (38%) did not return to their previous level of function. Plasmapheresis led to complete recovery in all four patients who received this intervention. Interestingly, many patients also experienced recovery after discontinuation of rituximab (RTX) treatment without the need for further therapeutic intervention.

conclusionsAcute clinical deterioration following RTX treatment in anti-MAG polyneuropathy is a possible occurrence. However, to date, no studies have assessed the true prevalence of this phenomenon. Further research is warranted to identify potential predictors of worsening following RTX treatment in this patient population.

Indexed as

anti-MAG neuropathyCD20flare and Guillain–Barreparaproteinemic neuropathyrituximabworsening

Identifiers

PMID39766493
PMCPMC11674938

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