title: Update on the role of rituximab in kidney diseases and transplant.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pathological antibody production by B lymphocytes is characteristic of numerous primary and secondary glomerular diseases of the kidney. Specific and less toxic therapies that target antibody-producing B cells are therefore needed. Based on its property of selectively depleting CD20(+) B cells, rituximab is a therapeutic option for antibody-mediated kidney diseases and adds to the existing drug armamentarium for the treatment of a number of these disorders.
  
  
  METHODS
  This article reviews the current use of rituximab in renal disease and transplantation, and includes discussion of the drug's potential role in conditions where traditional treatment has failed. A literature search using PubMed data base was undertaken using search words rituximab and kidney transplantation, glomerulonephritis, antibody production etc.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Rituximab could be a beneficial drug in certain renal diseases and for complications related to kidney transplantation where conventional treatment has not been successful.
authors.affiliation: University of Missouri Health Sciences Center, Department of Medicine, Columbia, MO 65212, USA.
authors.forename: Vinayak
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ramanath
authors.forename: Ravi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nistala
authors.forename: Kunal
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chaudhary
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived / Q000502:physiology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005921:Glomerulonephritis / Q000276:immunology / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000601:surgery* / Q000628:therapy*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology; D000069283:Rituximab
chemical_list: D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D000069283:Rituximab