title: Rituximab in immunologic glomerular diseases.
abstract: Experimental data suggest that the B-cell antigen CD20 may play a significant role in the pathogenesis of many diseases including glomerular diseases. These and other findings underpin the central concept of B-cell-depleting therapies that target CD20 antigen as treatments for lupus nephritis, idiopathic membranous nephropathy, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, cryglobulinemic glomerulonephritis, antibody mediated renal allograft rejection and recurrent glomerulonephritis in renal allograft. Use of rituximab as a B-cell depleting therapy has been associated with clinical improvement and has emerged as a possible adjunct or alternative treatment option in this field of nephrology.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology; Hypertension and Transplantation; University of Florida; Gainesville, FL USA.
authors.forename: A Ahsan
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Ejaz
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences; University of Central Florida; Orlando, FL USA.
authors.forename: Abdo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Asmar
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology; Hypertension and Transplantation; University of Florida; Gainesville, FL USA.
authors.forename: Mourad M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Alsabbagh
authors.affiliation: Fayetteville Veterans Administration Medical Center; Fayetteville, NC USA.
authors.forename: Nasimul
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ahsan
mesh_terms: D064591:Allografts; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008212:Lymphocyte Depletion / Q000379:methods*; D000069283:Rituximab
chemical_list: D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D000069283:Rituximab