Rituximab retreatment guided by CD27+ B-cell count versus clinical relapse in anti-MAG polyneuropathy: a cost-effective approach with lower cumulative doses

Margherita Bellucci¹Giovanna Capodivento²Federico Massa¹Federica Maria Bozzano²Giacomo Bavestrello¹Elena Baroncelli¹Corrado Cabona³Antonia Cagnetta⁴Angelo Schenone¹Lucilla Nobbio²Luana Benedetti^5*

• ¹Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, and Mother-Child, School of Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Genoa, Genova, Italy
• ²IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
• ³Division of Clinical Neurophysiology and Epilepsy Center, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
• ⁴Department of Hematology, Universita degli Studi di Genova Dipartimento di Medicina Interna e Specialita Mediche, Genoa, Italy
• ⁵Department of Neurology, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy

Introduction. Rituximab (RTX) is a widely used treatment for anti-MAG polyneuropathy, though standardized maintenance strategies are lacking. We aimed to compare two RTX retreatment protocols: (1) a full course (375 mg/m²/week for 4 weeks) administered at clinical relapse, and (2) a single infusion (375 mg/m²) at reappearance of peripheral CD27+ B cells-to evaluate their impact on disability progression over time.Patients and methods. We retrospectively enrolled 29 patients with anti-MAG polyneuropathy, dividing them into two cohorts: 1) relapse (n=19), treated with a full course at clinical relapse, or 2) Kim's protocol (n=10), treated based on peripheral CD27+ B cell monitoring. Changes in INCAT, MRC sum score, and ISS from baseline to last follow-up were assessed.. No significant changes in MRC scores were observed in either cohort. Both cohorts showed a significant reduction in INCAT scores at last follow-up, with a tendency toward greater improvement in Kim's protocol cohort. ISS scores were significantly lower in Kim's protocol cohort compared to the relapse cohort (p < 0.01). Importantly, patients treated according to Kim's protocol received a cumulative RTX dose approximately 2.5 times lower than those treated upon relapse (p < 0.0001), despite showing comparable or better clinical outcomes.A tailored maintenance strategy guided by peripheral CD27+ memory B-cell monitoring enables reduced cumulative RTX exposure while preserving clinical efficacy. This approach may improve cost-effectiveness and reduce treatment burden in patients with anti-MAG polyneuropathy.