Abstract |
Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP) is a severe, progressive disease of the musculoskeletal system. Muscles, tendons and other connective tissues ossify after minor trauma, and patients often become encased in a second immobile skeleton. There is no known cure or treatment for FOP. It has been found that lymphocytes from FOP patients elaborate excess levels of bone morphogenic protein-4 (BMP-4). Given this, it has been suggested that allogenic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) possibly could be a cure for FOP, and drawn attention to a previously unappreciated case of an FOP patient who had successful BMT for aplastic anemia with apparent short- and medium-term arresting of the FOP disease process. However, BMT has non-trivial associated morbidity and mortality. Here, it is noted that if B cells are found to be the lymphocytes responsible for excess BMP-4 production in FOP, use of Rituximab, a monoclonal anti-CD20 antibody which effectively targets B cells, could be a less permanent and less risky treatment alternative for FOP.
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Authors | Eric Lewin Altschuler |
Journal | Medical hypotheses
(Med Hypotheses)
Vol. 63
Issue 3
Pg. 407-8
( 2004)
ISSN: 0306-9877 [Print] United States |
PMID | 15288357
(Publication Type: Journal Article)
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Copyright | Copyright 2004 Elsevier Ltd. |
Chemical References |
- Antibodies, Monoclonal
- Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived
- Rituximab
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Topics |
- Antibodies, Monoclonal
(administration & dosage)
- Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived
- B-Lymphocytes
(drug effects, immunology)
- Bone Marrow Transplantation
(methods)
- Clinical Trials as Topic
- Evidence-Based Medicine
- Humans
- Myositis Ossificans
(drug therapy, immunology, surgery)
- Rituximab
- Treatment Outcome
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