Rituximab Monotherapy versus Rituximab and Bortezomib Combination Therapy for Treatment of Non-paraneoplastic Autoimmune Retinopathy

PURPOSE: To study whether rituximab and bortezomib combination therapy is more effective than rituximab monotherapy in the treatment of non-paraneoplastic autoimmune retinopathy (npAIR). METHODS: Retrospective case series involving six patients with npAIR, taking either rituximab and bortezomib combination therapy (three cases) or rituximab monotherapy (one case and two historical patients). RESULTS: Patients on both treatment regimens showed stability in most of the visual function parameters during the one year of follow-up. Combination therapy resulted in improvement of scotopic combined rod and cone a-wave and b-wave amplitudes in all eyes where they were available (four eyes); however, rituximab monotherapy resulted in only two eyes with stable scotopic combined rod and cone a-wave and b-wave amplitudes, while four eyes showed a decrease in both a- and b-wave amplitudes. The average improvement in b-wave amplitude (50.7% [Formula: see text] 29.4% [range, 25–90%]) was higher than the average improvement in a-wave amplitude (35.7% [Formula: see text] 9.74 [range, 25–63%]). No severe adverse effects were reported. CONCLUSION: Rituximab and bortezomib combination therapy may not be more effective than rituximab monotherapy in npAIR patients for most of the visual function parameters; however, this combination therapy may be more effective in improving scotopic combined rod and cone a- and b-wave amplitudes. This may indicate the higher efficacy of combination therapy when there is involvement of the inner retina.