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Rituximab therapy for steroid-dependent minimal change nephrotic syndrome

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Abstract

We present a patient with steroid-sensitive but high-dose steroid-dependent nephrotic syndrome who was treated with rituximab. For 9 months following therapy she had undetectable CD19 cells in the peripheral circulation. She remained in remission during this period even though therapy was reduced to low-dose, alternate day prednisolone only. After 9 months, CD19 cells were once again detectable. Shortly after CD19 cells became detectable again she relapsed. We conclude that B-lymphocytes play a central role in the pathogenesis of idiopathic minimal change nephrotic syndrome (MCNS) and that rituximab may have a useful role in the management of steroid-dependent patients.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Regional Paediatric Nephro-Urology Unit, Child Health Department Southampton General Hospital, Tremona Road, Southampton, S16 6YD, UK

    Rodney D. Gilbert & Eleanor Hulse

  2. Renal Unit, Evelina Children’s Hospital, St. Thomas’s Hospital, London, UK

    Susan Rigden

Authors
  1. Rodney D. Gilbert
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  2. Eleanor Hulse
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  3. Susan Rigden
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Correspondence to Rodney D. Gilbert.

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Gilbert, R.D., Hulse, E. & Rigden, S. Rituximab therapy for steroid-dependent minimal change nephrotic syndrome. Pediatr Nephrol 21, 1698–1700 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00467-006-0228-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00467-006-0228-x

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