Rituximab efficiency in children with steroid-dependent nephrotic syndrome.
Although most patients with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (NS) respond to steroid treatment, development of steroid dependency may require a long-term multidrug therapy including steroid and calcineurin inhibitor. Rituximab was shown to allow a reduction of the doses of steroid and immunosuppressive drugs in those patients. In the present series, 22 patients with steroid-sensitive, but steroid-dependent nephrotic syndrome were treated with rituximab. Rituximab reduced B cell count down to an undetectable level in all patients. A second treatment was necessary in 18 patients in order to maintain B cell depletion for up to 18 months. B cell depletion lasted 4.9 to 26 months (mean 17.2 months). At last follow-up, 9 patients were in remission without oral steroid or calcineurin inhibitor, although B cell count had recovered for 2.9 to 17 months (mean 9.5 months). A remission under ongoing B cell depletion was observed in 10 other patients in the absence of oral steroid or calcineurin inhibitor. Rituximab failed in 2 patients and 1 refused any additional treatment, despite B cell recovery and relapse. Toxicity of rituximab was limited to reversible cytokine shock in 2 patients and reversible neutropenia in 1 patient. No severe infection was observed.
Pediatric Nephrology Department, Hôpital Robert Debré, APHP, Université Paris VII, 48 Boulevard Sérurier, 75019, Paris, France. alaure.leclerc@gmail.com
Anne-Laure
AL
Sellier-Leclerc
Marie-Alice
MA
Macher
Chantal
C
Loirat
Valérie
V
Guérin
Hervé
H
Watier
Michel
M
Peuchmaur
Véronique
V
Baudouin
Georges
G
Deschênes
D000293:Adolescent; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D002648:Child; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008297:Male; D009404:Nephrotic Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000069283:Rituximab; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D000069283:Rituximab