Rituximab in Minimal Change Disease: Mechanisms of Action and Hypotheses for Future Studies

Overview

Journal Can J Kidney Health Dis

Publisher Sage Publications

Date 2017 May 26

PMID 28540057

Citations 7

Authors

Nima Madanchi

Martin Bitzan

Tomoko Takano

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Treatment with rituximab, a monoclonal antibody against the B-lymphocyte surface protein CD20, leads to the depletion of B cells. Recently, rituximab was reported to effectively prevent relapses of glucocorticoid-dependent or frequently relapsing minimal change disease (MCD). MCD is thought to be T-cell mediated; how rituximab controls MCD is not understood. In this review, we summarize key clinical studies demonstrating the efficacy of rituximab in idiopathic nephrotic syndrome, mainly MCD. We then discuss immunological features of this disease and potential mechanisms of action of rituximab in its treatment based on what is known about the therapeutic action of rituximab in other immune-mediated disorders. We believe that studies aimed at understanding the mechanisms of action of rituximab in MCD will provide a novel approach to resolve the elusive immune pathophysiology of MCD.

Citing Articles

Case report: Effective treatment of rituximab-resistant minimal change disease with obinutuzumab in an adult.

Wang Q, Lin L, Zhen J, Jiang B, Liu G Front Immunol. 2024; 15:1407461.

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Risk of Severe Infections Secondary to the Use of Targeted Therapies in Hematological Malignancies.

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Risk of Infections Secondary to the Use of Targeted Therapies in Hematological Malignancies.

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Off-Label Use of Rituximab in Patients with Different Types of Nephropathies in a Tertiary Hospital: A Retrospective Study.

Sans-Pola C, Agusti A, Bosch J, Agraz I, Alerany C, Danes I J Clin Med. 2021; 10(21).

PMID: 34768461 PMC: 8584949. DOI: 10.3390/jcm10214941.

Rituximab Induces Complete Remission of Proteinuria in a Patient With Minimal Change Disease and No Detectable B Cells.

Webendorfer M, Reinhard L, Stahl R, Wiech T, Mittrucker H, Harendza S Front Immunol. 2021; 11:586012.

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