Biopsy-verified response of severe lupus nephritis to treatment with rituximab (anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody) plus cyclophosphamide after biopsy-documented failure to respond to cyclophosphamide alone
- 31 December 2004
- journal article
- case report
- Published by Informa UK Limited in Scandinavian Journal of Rheumatology
- Vol. 33 (6), 423-427
- https://doi.org/10.1080/03009740410010227
Abstract
Background: The monoclonal anti-B cell antibody rituximab (Rituxin, Mabthera) may be of benefit in antibody-driven diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) nephritis. Patients and treatment: Two female patients with biopsy-confirmed severe and active SLE nephritis despite treatment with cyclophosphamide (CyX) were given four rituximab infusions plus two additional CyX infusions. Results: Both patients tolerated the treatment well and SLE activity improved. On repeat kidney biopsy after the combined treatment, Patient 1 showed a profound reduction of nephritis activity, and she was maintained on low-dose prednisolone only. A repeat biopsy after 1 year confirmed the sustained reduction of lupus nephritis activity. In Patient 2, rebiopsy after combined treatment also showed a significant reduction in disease activity. Conclusion: These cases provide histopathological documentation of a significant treatment benefit from rituximab plus CyX in two patients refractory to CyX alone. This combination is being explored further as salvage therapy for such CyX-resistant patients.Keywords
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