Abstract
Eight patients with refractory lupus nephritis received rituximab after failing standard sequential therapy and were followed for 104 weeks after the infusion. One patient died secondary to a complicated pregnancy but had stable renal function. Three patients received a re-infusion of rituximab approximately 12 months apart due to a renal flare; during the second year of follow-up, those patients progressed toward ESRD. The four remaining patients demonstrated improvements in SLEDAI score, CrCl, and proteinuria with maintenance of their standard immunosuppressive therapy and did not require a re-infusion of rituximab. Although rituximab as induction therapy for refractory lupus nephritis has been shown to have a good response, its efficacy in long-term assessments demonstrates disappointing results.
MeSH terms
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Adult
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Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived / administration & dosage*
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Antigens, CD20 / immunology*
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Biomarkers / blood
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Creatinine / blood
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Disease Progression
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Drug Administration Schedule
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Drug Resistance
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Drug Substitution
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Female
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Follow-Up Studies
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Humans
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Immunologic Factors / administration & dosage*
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Immunosuppressive Agents / therapeutic use
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Infusions, Intravenous
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Kidney Failure, Chronic / etiology
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Lupus Nephritis / complications
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Lupus Nephritis / diagnosis
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Lupus Nephritis / drug therapy*
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Lupus Nephritis / immunology
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Male
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Mexico
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Middle Aged
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Prospective Studies
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Proteinuria / drug therapy
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Proteinuria / etiology
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Recurrence
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Rituximab
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Severity of Illness Index
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Time Factors
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Treatment Failure
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Young Adult
Substances
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Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived
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Antigens, CD20
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Biomarkers
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Immunologic Factors
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Immunosuppressive Agents
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Rituximab
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Creatinine