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Old 09-15-2016, 08:36 PM
en bloc's Avatar
en bloc en bloc is offline
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Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Shenandoah Mountains, VA
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10 yr Member
en bloc en bloc is offline
Senior Member
en bloc's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Shenandoah Mountains, VA
Posts: 1,250
10 yr Member
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Thanks for the link.

I don't see SVID mentioned. Your MRI was dismissed, if I remember correctly as being non-specific. Do you have the actual report from the MRI? If so ,what does it say? I went back to posts from long ago and you reported that it only showed SVID that matches your age and stage...no lesions. But I don't know if this was what the doctor had told you then (and we all know how they like to minimize findings at times) and now you have seen the report and know more.

But honestly as I said before to help put your mind at ease a bit, SVID doesn't have many symptoms reported, except dementia/memory/etc in significant cases of SVID. It doesn't create a major CNS condition. I interpreted that article to be more about other, more serious, CNS conditions. And although they use immunosuppresion for serious CNS involvement, Rituximab is not in this class, per se. Rituxan is a biologic agent for monoclonal treatment, to target B cells...it is not a general immuno-suppressor like Imuran, Cellcept, Cytoxan, etc. And I just read an article from our National Institute of Health on Rituximab for CNS of primary Sjogren's and it was didn't have great results (Rituximab in central nervous system manifestations of patients with primary Sjogren's syndrome: results from the AIR registry. - PubMed - NCBI)

I would just wait and see what the MRI finds and see what the neurologist has to say (not that you were very impressed with her dismissal of your condition)...maybe ask for a second neuro opinion if you are permitted that in your system.

But don't jump with the Rituximab until they can tell you what symptom(s) it will improve (and you find something confirming this online). Because your vertigo is obviously from something else (Sjogren's related for sure, but not SVID), and this is the most debilitating symptom for you, if I'm not mistaken.

I so wish you can get hooked up with someone that has more experience with Sjogren's. Maybe the new rheumy (to replace the retired one) will have more knowledge on this subject...let's think positive that he/she will and help get you the treatment you need. Do you even have a follow up appt for a new rheumy?
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