TY - JOUR
T1 - 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
AU - van Vollenhoven, R. F.
AU - Gunnarsson, I.
AU - Welin-Henriksson, E.
AU - Sundelin, B.
AU - Osterborg, A.
AU - Jacobson, S. H.
AU - Klareskog, L.
PY - 2004
Y1 - 2004
N2 - 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
AB - 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
U2 - https://doi.org/10.1080/03009740410010227
DO - https://doi.org/10.1080/03009740410010227
M3 - Article
C2 - 15794203
SN - 0300-9742
VL - 33
SP - 423
EP - 427
JO - Scandinavian Journal of Rheumatology
JF - Scandinavian Journal of Rheumatology
IS - 6
ER -