Rituximab (Rituxan) Therapy for Severe Thyroid-Associated Ophthalmopathy Diminishes IGF-1R+ T Cells

Abstract

Frequency of IGF-1R(+) T cells in patients with TAO declines within 4-6 weeks after rituximab treatment. This phenotypic shift coincides with clinical improvement. Thus, assessment of the abundance of IGF-1R(+) T cells in response to rituximab may provide a biomarker of clinical response. Our current findings further implicate the IGF-1R pathway in the pathogenesis of TAO.