Autoimmune testing

stillHoping · 12-11-2016, 03:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sophie0513

What is ritiximab ? Does it help with symptoms? And you said you were prescribed this because the progression of your symptoms, did your symptoms come on slowly or quickly?

Rituximab is a treatment for some autoimmune disorders and Lymphoma.
It helped a lot with my POTS and fatigue, it is harder to evaluate its effect on my SFN's sensory symptoms because it is mainly numbness and reduced sensation, and not pain.
My sensory SFN symptoms progressed slowly, the autonomic problems began almost 20 years ago.
I don't have any specific autoimmune diagnosis, but I have been having many problems that are common in Sjogren syndrome and other autoimmune disorders.
10 years ago I had Lymphoma (which is more common in some autoimmune disorders), I felt a lot better for a couple of years after the chemotherapy which included Rituximab, so my doctors thought it is worth trying Rituximab again.

Sophie0513 · 12-11-2016, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kiwi33

Rituximab is a monoclonal antibody, originally made in mice, which has been humanised so it is in effect a human monoclonal antibody. It is on the WHO "List of Essential Medicines", the most important medications needed in a basic health system.

Rituximab binds to a protein called CD20 which is found on B cells. Because of that it can be effective in treating RA and there is also evidence that it can help in treating other auto-immune diseases like SLE, MS and Sjogren's syndrome.

Like all biological therapeutics it can potentially have very serious adverse side-effects so it is worth getting a prescribing doctor to explain those to you before deciding whether or not to use it.

Thank you Kiwi

davidl · 12-19-2016, 02:37 PM

My last ANA test was 1:2560.

I have small fiber neuropathy. Confirmed through 2 skin biopsies.

My neurologist tried to get me IVIG infusion therapy.

Insurance denied it. It's very discouraging. We are appealing it.

Sophie0513 · 12-19-2016, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stillHoping

Rituximab is a treatment for some autoimmune disorders and Lymphoma.
It helped a lot with my POTS and fatigue, it is harder to evaluate its effect on my SFN's sensory symptoms because it is mainly numbness and reduced sensation, and not pain.
My sensory SFN symptoms progressed slowly, the autonomic problems began almost 20 years ago.
I don't have any specific autoimmune diagnosis, but I have been having many problems that are common in Sjogren syndrome and other autoimmune disorders.
10 years ago I had Lymphoma (which is more common in some autoimmune disorders), I felt a lot better for a couple of years after the chemotherapy which included Rituximab, so my doctors thought it is worth trying Rituximab again.

Thank you still hoping

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