Fatehi F, Okhovat AA, Panahi A, et al. - Rituximab may be effective in refractory CIDP, though some patients may experience worsening. When available, anti-nodal/paranodal antibodies assays and other criteria may aid in therapeutic decision-making for rituximab as second-line treatment.

• The authors studied the response to rituximab in 14 Iranian patients with refractory CIDP (3 children, 11 adults) who did not have anti-nodal/paranodal antibodies.

• The average age was 34.4 ± 20.7 years, the disease duration prior to rituximab treatment was 27.8 ± 18.8 months, and the average follow-up period was 18.5 ± 11.0 months.

• In terms of Inflammatory Neuropathy Cause and Treatment sumscore, one patient worsened after rituximab treatment, and three patients did not change.

• In terms of MRCSS, four patients achieved normalization of their MRCSS.

• In terms of corticosteroid dosage, two patients were able to discontinue prednisolone.

• Nerve conduction parameters in the treated cohort improved significantly after rituximab, according to a pre-defined scoring system.

• Rituximab infusions were well tolerated by all patients.