ALSUntangled #67: rituximab

ALSUntangled reviews alternative and off-label treatments on behalf of people with ALS who ask about them. Here we review rituximab, a drug which specifically depletes B lymphocytes. We show a current lack of evidence for a role of these cells in ALS progression. The one patient we found who described using Rituximab for their ALS found no benefit. Given all this, and the known serious risks of rituximab, we advise against its use as an ALS treatment.

Automated summary

ALSUntangled reviews alternative and off-label treatments for ALS and finds that rituximab, a drug depleting B lymphocytes, lacks evidence of efficacy in ALS. One patient's experience with rituximab showed no benefit. Due to the known risks, we advise against using rituximab as an ALS treatment.