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Context: Graves’ disease (GD) is a common TSH receptor autoantibody (TRAb)-mediated disorder. Because B lymphocytes are important self-antigen presenting cells and precursors for antibody-secreting plasma cells, temporary B-lymphocyte depletion with the monoclonal antibody rituximab (RTX) might be of benefit in GD.

Objective/Design: The objective of this prospective, controlled, nonrandomized study was to investigate the effect of RTX in GD.

Setting/Patients: We studied 20 outpatients referred to a university clinic with newly diagnosed (four with relapse) untreated GD. Ten received RTX (+RTX), whereas 10 did not (−RTX).

Intervention: The patients received methimazole (MMI) for a median of 102 d (+RTX) and 110 d (−RTX) before the study. Patients in the +RTX group received 375 mg RTX/m² iv on d 1, 8, 15, and 22, and all patients were withdrawn from …