Long-Term Outcomes of Rituximab-Treated Adult Patients with Podocytopathies

What is it about?

Primary podocytopathies are characterized by their relapsing-remitting character. Rituximab, a monoclonal antibody directed against CD20-bearing cells, has increasingly been used to manage difficult-to-treat cases with minimal change disease and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. We have collected 183 patients, 64 with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis and 119 with minimal change disease, who received rituximab in adulthood. Treatment not only reduced the annualized relapse rate of patients, it also allowed for reduction of concomitant immunosuppressive treatment and 55% remained free of further relapses during an observational period of 36 months. Our study, if confirmed by ongoing clinical trials, provides a rationale for widespread use of rituximab in the management of primary podocytopathies.

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