Takayuki Katsuno1,2, Tomohiro Masuda3, Shoji Saito3, Noritoshi Kato3, Takuji Ishimoto3, Sawako Kato3, Tomoki Kosugi3, Naotake Tsuboi3, Hiroshi Kitamura4, Toyonori Tsuzuki5, Yasuhiko Ito6, Shoichi Maruyama3. 1. Department of Nephrology and Rheumatology, Aichi Medical University, 1-1 Karimata, Yazako, Nagakute, 480-1195, Japan. t-katsuno@aichi-med-u.ac.jp. 2. Department of Nephrology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan. t-katsuno@aichi-med-u.ac.jp. 3. Department of Nephrology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan. 4. Department of Pathology, National Hospital Organization Chiba East Hospital, Chiba, Japan. 5. Department of Surgical Pathology, Aichi Medical University, Nagakute, Japan. 6. Department of Nephrology and Rheumatology, Aichi Medical University, 1-1 Karimata, Yazako, Nagakute, 480-1195, Japan.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Recent reports have described the efficacy of rituximab in treating steroid-dependent nephrotic syndrome (SDNS) in pediatric patients. However, few reports describe data regarding adult-onset SDNS. We investigated the efficacy of rituximab for the management of adult-onset SDNS. METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort study investigating eight patients with adult-onset SDNS who were treated with rituximab. Clinical data were obtained at the initiation of rituximab therapy. The primary outcomes evaluated were successful suppression of relapses and CD19+ cells after rituximab treatment. The corticosteroid- and immunosuppressant-sparing effect and adverse events were additionally evaluated. RESULTS: All eight patients were diagnosed with minimal change nephrotic syndrome and received immunosuppressants in addition to corticosteroid. Total number of relapses was 10.5 times as a median value. Rituximab administration was repeated in two patients, whereas six received single-dose rituximab. Three of eight (37.5%) patients showed relapse after rituximab therapy. A rituximab-induced depletion in CD19+ cells noted initially was followed by their reappearance in all patients. There were cases with no relapse after the reappearance of CD19+ cells. The median relapse time pre- and post-rituximab therapy showed a decrease from 1 time/year (interquartile range [IQR] 1-3 times/year) to 0 time/year (IQR 0-1 time/year). Rituximab treatment induced a significant reduction in the required doses of corticosteroid and cyclosporine (P < 0.01). No serious adverse events were observed. CONCLUSION: Rituximab treatment was effective not only in childhood-onset but also in adult-onset SDNS. Further studies are needed to establish optimal treatment regimens.
BACKGROUND: Recent reports have described the efficacy of rituximab in treating steroid-dependent nephrotic syndrome (SDNS) in pediatric patients. However, few reports describe data regarding adult-onset SDNS. We investigated the efficacy of rituximab for the management of adult-onset SDNS. METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort study investigating eight patients with adult-onset SDNS who were treated with rituximab. Clinical data were obtained at the initiation of rituximab therapy. The primary outcomes evaluated were successful suppression of relapses and CD19+ cells after rituximab treatment. The corticosteroid- and immunosuppressant-sparing effect and adverse events were additionally evaluated. RESULTS: All eight patients were diagnosed with minimal change nephrotic syndrome and received immunosuppressants in addition to corticosteroid. Total number of relapses was 10.5 times as a median value. Rituximab administration was repeated in two patients, whereas six received single-dose rituximab. Three of eight (37.5%) patients showed relapse after rituximab therapy. A rituximab-induced depletion in CD19+ cells noted initially was followed by their reappearance in all patients. There were cases with no relapse after the reappearance of CD19+ cells. The median relapse time pre- and post-rituximab therapy showed a decrease from 1 time/year (interquartile range [IQR] 1-3 times/year) to 0 time/year (IQR 0-1 time/year). Rituximab treatment induced a significant reduction in the required doses of corticosteroid and cyclosporine (P < 0.01). No serious adverse events were observed. CONCLUSION:Rituximab treatment was effective not only in childhood-onset but also in adult-onset SDNS. Further studies are needed to establish optimal treatment regimens.