Rituximab in glomerular diseases: a case series and narrative review

Abstract Introduction: The use of Rituximab (RTX) in glomerular diseases (GD) has increased in the past years, although it is still only used in a small fraction of patients. Methods: A single center retrospective study of adult patients with membranous nephropathy (MN), focal segmental glomerulos...

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Main Authors: Inês Duarte, João Oliveira, Cristina Outerelo, Iolanda Godinho, Marta Pereira, Paulo Fernandes, Sofia Jorge, Joana Gameiro
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Sociedade Brasileira de Nefrologia 2021-12-01
Series:Brazilian Journal of Nephrology
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0101-28002021005081301&tlng=pt
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author Inês Duarte
João Oliveira
Cristina Outerelo
Iolanda Godinho
Marta Pereira
Paulo Fernandes
Sofia Jorge
Joana Gameiro
author_facet Inês Duarte
João Oliveira
Cristina Outerelo
Iolanda Godinho
Marta Pereira
Paulo Fernandes
Sofia Jorge
Joana Gameiro
author_sort Inês Duarte
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Introduction: The use of Rituximab (RTX) in glomerular diseases (GD) has increased in the past years, although it is still only used in a small fraction of patients. Methods: A single center retrospective study of adult patients with membranous nephropathy (MN), focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), lupus nephritis (LN), and vasculitis treated with RTX as first or second-line therapy was conducted at our center from 2010 to 2020. Results: We identified 19 patients; 36.8% had MN and 25.0% each had FSGS, LN, and vasculitis. RTX was first-line therapy in 26.3% of patients and in 73.7% it was second-line therapy. Mean follow-up time was 7.7 ± 7.2 years. In MN, 2 patients (28.6%) had complete remission (CR), 2 patients (28.6%) had partial remission (PR), and 3 patients (42.9%) had no response (NR). In FSGS, 2 patients (50.0%) presented CR, 1 patient (25.0%) had no response, and 1 patient had renal deterioration. Two patients (50.0%) had a LN class IV with a CR after RTX, 1 patient with LN class IIIC/V had no response, and 1 patient with LN class II had renal deterioration. In vasculitis, 3 patients (75.0%) presented CR and 1 patient had PR. Infusion reactions were present in 2 patients (10.5%) and one patient had multiple infectious complications. Conclusions: The efficacy of RTX in treating different types of immune-mediated GD has been demonstrated with different response rates, but an overall safe profile. In our case series, the results are also encouraging. Longitudinal studies are needed to better understand the effect of RTX in GD.
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spelling doaj.art-61d48ee1a9564146a842640e0d4ea3312022-12-21T19:36:09ZengSociedade Brasileira de NefrologiaBrazilian Journal of Nephrology2175-82392021-12-0110.1590/2175-8239-jbn-2021-0120Rituximab in glomerular diseases: a case series and narrative reviewInês Duartehttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-0101-9961João Oliveirahttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-5097-9630Cristina OutereloIolanda GodinhoMarta PereiraPaulo FernandesSofia JorgeJoana Gameirohttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-6143-461XAbstract Introduction: The use of Rituximab (RTX) in glomerular diseases (GD) has increased in the past years, although it is still only used in a small fraction of patients. Methods: A single center retrospective study of adult patients with membranous nephropathy (MN), focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), lupus nephritis (LN), and vasculitis treated with RTX as first or second-line therapy was conducted at our center from 2010 to 2020. Results: We identified 19 patients; 36.8% had MN and 25.0% each had FSGS, LN, and vasculitis. RTX was first-line therapy in 26.3% of patients and in 73.7% it was second-line therapy. Mean follow-up time was 7.7 ± 7.2 years. In MN, 2 patients (28.6%) had complete remission (CR), 2 patients (28.6%) had partial remission (PR), and 3 patients (42.9%) had no response (NR). In FSGS, 2 patients (50.0%) presented CR, 1 patient (25.0%) had no response, and 1 patient had renal deterioration. Two patients (50.0%) had a LN class IV with a CR after RTX, 1 patient with LN class IIIC/V had no response, and 1 patient with LN class II had renal deterioration. In vasculitis, 3 patients (75.0%) presented CR and 1 patient had PR. Infusion reactions were present in 2 patients (10.5%) and one patient had multiple infectious complications. Conclusions: The efficacy of RTX in treating different types of immune-mediated GD has been demonstrated with different response rates, but an overall safe profile. In our case series, the results are also encouraging. Longitudinal studies are needed to better understand the effect of RTX in GD.http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0101-28002021005081301&tlng=ptGlomerulonephritisRituximabImmunosuppressionRemission InductionRecurrence
spellingShingle Inês Duarte
João Oliveira
Cristina Outerelo
Iolanda Godinho
Marta Pereira
Paulo Fernandes
Sofia Jorge
Joana Gameiro
Rituximab in glomerular diseases: a case series and narrative review
Brazilian Journal of Nephrology
Glomerulonephritis
Rituximab
Immunosuppression
Remission Induction
Recurrence
title Rituximab in glomerular diseases: a case series and narrative review
title_full Rituximab in glomerular diseases: a case series and narrative review
title_fullStr Rituximab in glomerular diseases: a case series and narrative review
title_full_unstemmed Rituximab in glomerular diseases: a case series and narrative review
title_short Rituximab in glomerular diseases: a case series and narrative review
title_sort rituximab in glomerular diseases a case series and narrative review
topic Glomerulonephritis
Rituximab
Immunosuppression
Remission Induction
Recurrence
url http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0101-28002021005081301&tlng=pt
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