Is there a role for rituximab in the treatment of idiopathic childhood nephrotic syndrome?
We each have nephrotic patients who become steroid dependent and in whom multiple immunosuppressive agents are employed. There is a need to balance possible therapeutic benefits with drug toxicity. This case report describes such a patient, who has suffered from nephrotic syndrome for over 11 years and had become resistant to the usual therapies. He was therefore given a single dose of the anti-CD20 drug rituximab, to which he showed a prompt response, leaving him free of proteinuria for the past 10 months.
Smith
Graham C
GC
Children's Kidney Centre, University Hospital of Wales, Heath Park, Cardiff, CF14 4XW, UK. smithgc@cardiff.ac.uk
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004351:Drug Resistance; D005920:Glomerular Mesangium / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000032:analysis; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D009404:Nephrotic Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000069283:Rituximab; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D000069283:Rituximab