[Rationale and clinical evidence for the use of rituximab in glomerular diseases]

Rev Med Suisse. 2011 Apr 13;7(290):819-24.
[Article in French]

Abstract

Autoimmune glomerulopathies are an important cause of chronic kidney disease. Conventional treatments based on steroids, antiproliferative and cytotoxic agents are efficacious, but highly toxic. Because of their central role in the pathogenesis of autoimmunity, B cells have become an attractive therapeutic target. Rituximab is a monoclonal antibody directed against CD20 expressed on the surface of B cells, inducing profound depletion of B cells in the peripheral blood. In spite of encouraging results regarding the off-label use of Rituximab in membranous nephropathy, systemic lupus erythematosus and small vessel vasculitis, controlled, long-term data, and data with specific renal endpoints are currently lacking.

Publication types

  • English Abstract
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived / adverse effects
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived / pharmacology
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived / therapeutic use*
  • Antigens, CD20 / immunology
  • Autoimmune Diseases / drug therapy*
  • Autoimmune Diseases / immunology
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Chronic Disease
  • Humans
  • Immunologic Factors / adverse effects
  • Immunologic Factors / pharmacology
  • Immunologic Factors / therapeutic use*
  • Kidney Diseases / drug therapy*
  • Kidney Diseases / immunology
  • Kidney Glomerulus / drug effects
  • Kidney Glomerulus / pathology
  • Rituximab

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived
  • Antigens, CD20
  • Immunologic Factors
  • Rituximab