The clinical efficacy of Rituximab in patients with lupus nephritis.

A single-center observational study.

Abstract

Introduction: Lupus Nephritis is a common and severe complication of systemic lupus erythematosus. Therapy based on immunosuppressants and glucocorticoids has recently been proposed as a possible treatment for Rituximab, but the evidence on its efficacy is limited.

Methods: The present observational study was conducted at the José Carrasco Arteaga Hospital (Cuenca-Ecuador) in patients with lupus nephropathy treated with Rituximab in 2018. Efficacy was evaluated with creatinine clearance and proteinuria measurement. Demographic characteristics are described, and the Wilcoxon test was used for comparisons.

Results: 28 cases were analyzed; 78.6% were women, 38.3 years old, and 35.7% had membranous lupus nephritis (class V). The creatinine and creatinine clearance values did not present significant variations at three, six, nine, and twelve months. The 24-hour proteinuria values were significantly lower after the administration of Rituximab; from the third month, significant changes were observed that were maintained at six, nine, and 12 months.

Conclusion: Rituximab, when used to treat Lupus Nephritis, has a stabilizing effect on creatinine and creatinine clearance values, that is, without disease progression, with a significant decrease in proteinuria.