title: Two cases of idiopathic membranous nephropathy treated with rituximab.
abstract: Idiopathic membranous nephropathy is a common cause of nephrotic syndrome, and has been reported as a cause of idiopathic primary glomerulonephropathy in up to 90% of patients. However, the treatment options remain controversial. We report two cases of idiopathic membranous nephropathy that were treated with rituximab. A 54-year-old man and a 64-year old man were admitted for rituximab therapy. They had previously been treated with combinations of immunosuppressive agents including cyclophosphamide, cyclosporine, mycophenolate, and steroids. However, the patients' heavy proteinuria was not resolved. Both patients received rituximab therapy, 2 weeks apart. After several months of follow-up and a second round of rituximab treatment for each patient, their proteinuria decreased and partial remission of disease was achieved in both patients.
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jae
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Young Yoon
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Seung
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tae Han
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Ajin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hye
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ryoun Jang
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jung
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Eun Lee
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Wooseong
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Huh
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Dae
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Joong Kim
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Ha
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Young Oh
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Yoon-Goo
authors.initials: YG
authors.lastname: Kim
keywords: Idiopathic membranous nephropathy; Nephrotic syndrome; Proteinuria; Rituximab