title: Rituximab in idiopathic membranous nephropathy: a one-year prospective study.
abstract: Currently available monoclonal antibodies against the B cell surface antigen CD20 have been employed to explore whether specific inhibition of B cells may help improve the outcome of idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN) and may avoid the side effects of steroids and immunosuppressants. This prospective, observational study evaluated the 1-yr outcome of eight IMN patients with persistent (>6 mo) urinary protein excretion > 3.5 g/24 h given four weekly infusions of the anti-CD20 antibody rituximab (375 mg/m(2)). At 3 and 12 mo, proteinuria significantly decreased from mean (+/- SD) 8.6 +/- 4.2 to 4.3 +/- 3.3 (-51%, P < 0.005) and 3.0 +/- 2.5 (-66%, P < 0.005) g/24 h, albumin fractional clearance from 2.3 +/- 2.1 to 1.2 +/- 1.7 (-47%, P < 0.05) and 0.5 +/- 0.6 (-76%, P < 0.003), and serum albumin concentration increased from 2.7 +/- 0.5 to 3.1 +/- 0.3 (+21%, P < 0.05) and 3.5 +/- 0.4 (+41%, P < 0.05) mg/dl. At 12 mo, proteinuria decreased to < or =0.5 g/24 h or < or =3.5 g/24 h in two and three patients, respectively. Proteinuria decreased in the remaining patients by 74%, 44%, and 41%, respectively. Body weight, diastolic BP, and serum cholesterol progressively decreased in parallel with an improvement of edema in all patients. Renal function stabilized (Delta1/creatinine: +0.002 +/- 0.007). CD20 B lymphocytes fell below normal ranges up to study-end. No patient had major drug-related events or major changes in other laboratory parameters. Rituximab thus promotes sustained disease remission in patients otherwise predicted to progress to ESRD, and it is safe. The long-term risk/benefit profile of this novel, disease-specific approach seems much more favorable to that of commonly employed immunosuppressive drugs.
authors.affiliation: Aldo & Cele Daccò Clinical Research Center for Rare Diseases and Negri Bergamo Laboratories, Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research, Via Gavazzeni 11, 24125 Bergamo, Italy.
authors.forename: Piero
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ruggenenti
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chiurchiu
authors.forename: Varusca
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Brusegan
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abbate
authors.forename: Annalisa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Perna
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Filippi
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Remuzzi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D018951:Antigens, CD20 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D015433:Glomerulonephritis, Membranous / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012074:Remission Induction; D000069283:Rituximab; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D018951:Antigens, CD20; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D000069283:Rituximab; D002784:Cholesterol