A recent study has shown that Rituximab is an effective treatment option for Graves’ eye disease after steroids have failed to deliver expected results. It is worth noting here that rituximab is presently used for other autoimmune diseases.

Raymond S. Douglas, M.D., Ph.D., an oculoplastics specialist who recently joined the faculty of the U-M Kellogg Eye Center, noted on the drug potential in the online October issue of Ophthalmology.

From News-Medical.Net:

In the current study, Douglas observed improvement among the patients, four of whom were women, as early as four weeks following the first infusion of rituximab. Researchers also observed that the positive results were sustained 4 to 6 months after treatment.

“Treatment of the inflammatory component of Graves’ eye disease has not advanced appreciably over several decades,” says Douglas. High-dose steroids, sometimes in combination with orbital radiation, are still the first line treatment. But, says Douglas, “These are imperfect options because inflammation often recurs when the treatment ends.” He is hopeful that rituximab can offer sustained improvement. Douglas observes that the results from a small case series must be viewed with some caution. But given the substantial benefits for patients treated with rituximab, he sees good reason to proceed with a large-scale clinical trial to test this promising new drug.

It was suggested by the study that rituximab is an effective form of treatment when it comes to the most severe forms of Graves’ eye disease.

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