title: Rituximab in lupus nephritis: A non-systematic review.
abstract: Lupus nephritis (LN) is a common and severe complication in patients with lupus. Current therapy is based on immunosuppressive drugs and glucocorticoids. Recently, rituximab has been proposed as an alternative treatment for LN. Rituximab is a monoclonal antibody directed against the CD20 antigen receptor on B cells. The aim of this review is to summarize all the available information about rituximab in LN. Eleven studies were found; three of them were observational studies (2 prospective and 1 retrospective) and eight were clinical trials (7 open-label studies and only 1 randomized controlled trial [RCT]). The evidence is insufficient to establish the role of rituximab in the treatment of LN. Results from the only RCT, which were negative, suggest a clinical benefit in black people. Further studies must confirm this hypothesis. Controlled clinical trials involving adaptive randomization are required to establish the real benefit of rituximab in LN.
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Enfermedades Reumáticas y Autoinmunes (UNERA), Guayaquil, Ecuador; Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Espíritu Santo, Guayaquil, Ecuador.
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zurita Gavilanes
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Espíritu Santo, Guayaquil, Ecuador. Electronic address: aldocosva_01@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Aldo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Costa Valarezo
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008181:Lupus Nephritis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000069283:Rituximab / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D007155:Immunologic Factors; D000069283:Rituximab
keywords: Lupus; Nefritis; Nephritis; Rituximab