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Basu B, Erdmann S, Sander A, Mahapatra TKS, Meis J, Schaefer F. Long-Term Efficacy and Safety of Rituximab Versus Tacrolimus in Children With Steroid Dependent Nephrotic Syndrome. Kidney Int Rep 2023; 8:1575-1584. [PMID: 37547526 PMCID: PMC10403658 DOI: 10.1016/j.ekir.2023.05.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Revised: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction In the Rituximab for Relapse Prevention in Nephrotic Syndrome (RITURNS) trial, we demonstrated superior efficacy of single-course rituximab over maintenance tacrolimus in preventing relapses in children with steroid dependent nephrotic syndrome (SDNS) during a 1-year observation. Here we present the long-term outcomes of all 117 trial completers, who were followed up for another 2 years. Methods Relapsing patients in the rituximab arm received a second course of rituximab, either with (n = 44) or without mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) cotreatment (n = 15). In the tacrolimus arm, second line rituximab monotherapy was initiated after relapses (n = 32) or electively (n = 24). Results All 12-month relapse-free patients in the rituximab arm relapsed in the second postexposure year, resulting in similar median relapse-free survival times in the 2 trial arms (62 vs. 59 weeks). Second line rituximab in the tacrolimus arm was less effective than first-line therapy in patients switched to rituximab following a relapse (relapse-free survival 55 vs. 63 weeks, P < 0.01). B-cell counts 6 months post-rituximab predicted relapse risk both for first and second line therapy. MMF cotreatment yielded much improved 2-year relapse-free survival as compared to rituximab monotherapy (67% vs. 9%, P < 0.0001). Higher grade 2 adverse event rates were observed post-rituximab versus on tacrolimus (0.87 vs. 0.53 per year). Conclusion The superior therapeutic effect of rituximab in SDNS vanishes during the second year post-exposure. Rituximab appears to yield longer remission when applied as first line as compared to second line therapy. Maintenance MMF following rituximab induces long-term disease remission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Biswanath Basu
- Division of Pediatric Nephrology, Department of Pediatrics, Nilratan Sircar Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata, India
| | - Stella Erdmann
- Institute of Medical Biometry, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Anja Sander
- Institute of Medical Biometry, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | - Jan Meis
- Institute of Medical Biometry, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Franz Schaefer
- Division of Pediatric Nephrology, Center for Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
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朱 颖, 吴 琳, 王 云, 朱 亚, 彭 寅, 方 韶, 张 罗, 邓 芳. [Efficacy and safety of low-dose rituximab in treatment of pediatric nephrotic syndrome: a prospective randomized controlled trial]. Zhongguo Dang Dai Er Ke Za Zhi 2023; 25:606-611. [PMID: 37382130 PMCID: PMC10321428 DOI: 10.7499/j.issn.1008-8830.2301026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 06/30/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To study the efficacy and safety of repeated application of rituximab (RTX) at a low dose (200 mg/m2) versus the recommended dose (375 mg/m2) for remission maintenance in frequently relapsing nephrotic syndrome (FRNS) or steroid-dependent nephrotic syndrome (SDNS). METHODS A randomized controlled trial was conducted for 29 children with FRNS/SDNS who received systemic treatment in the Department of Nephrology, Anhui Provincial Children's Hospital, from September 2020 to December 2021. These children were divided into a recommended dose group (n=14) and a low dose group (n=15) using a random number table. The two groups were compared in terms of general characteristics, changes in CD19 expression after RTX treatment, number of relapses, glucocorticoid dose, adverse reactions of RTX, and hospital costs. RESULTS After RTX treatment, both the low dose group and the recommended dose group achieved B-lymphocyte depletion and had significant reductions in the number of relapses and glucocorticoid dose (P<0.05). The low dose group had a comparable clinical effect to the recommended dose group after RTX treatment (P>0.05), and the low dose group had a significant reduction in hospital costs for the second, third, and fourth times of hospitalization (P<0.05). There were no serious adverse reactions in either group during RTX treatment and late follow-up, and there was no significant difference in adverse reactions between the two groups (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS Repeated RTX treatment at a low dose has comparable clinical efficacy and safety to that at the recommended dose and can significantly reduce the number of FRNS/SDNS relapses and the amount of glucocorticoids used, with little adverse effect throughout the treatment cycle. Therefore, it holds promise for clinical application.
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Chan EYH, Yap DYH, Colucci M, Ma ALT, Parekh RS, Tullus K. Use of Rituximab in Childhood Idiopathic Nephrotic Syndrome. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol 2023; 18:533-548. [PMID: 36456193 PMCID: PMC10103321 DOI: 10.2215/cjn.08570722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2022] [Revised: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Rituximab is an established therapy in children with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome to sustain short- to medium-term disease remission and avoid steroid toxicities. Recent trials focus on its use as a first-line agent among those with milder disease severity. Rituximab is used in multidrug refractory nephrotic syndrome and post-transplant disease recurrence, although the evidence is much less substantial. Available data suggest that the treatment response to rituximab depends on various patient factors, dosing regimen, and the concomitant use of maintenance immunosuppression. After repeated treatments, patients are found to have an improving response overall with a longer relapse-free period. The drug effect, however, is not permanent, and 80% of patients eventually relapse and many will require an additional course of rituximab. This underpins the importance of understanding the long-term safety profile on repeated treatments. Although rituximab appears to be generally safe, there are concerns about long-term hypogammaglobulinemia, especially in young children. Reliable immunophenotyping and biomarkers are yet to be discovered to predict treatment success, risk of both rare and severe side effects, e.g. , persistent hypogammaglobulinemia, and guiding of redosing strategy. In this review, we highlight recent advances in the use of rituximab for childhood nephrotic syndrome and how the therapeutic landscape is evolving.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eugene Yu-hin Chan
- Paediatric Nephrology Centre, Hong Kong Children's Hospital, Kowloon, Hong Kong
- Department of Paediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
| | - Desmond Yat-hin Yap
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
| | - Manuela Colucci
- Renal Diseases Research Unit, Genetics and Rare Diseases Research Division, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Alison Lap-tak Ma
- Paediatric Nephrology Centre, Hong Kong Children's Hospital, Kowloon, Hong Kong
- Department of Paediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
| | - Rulan S. Parekh
- Departments of Medicine and Pediatrics, Women's College Hospital, Hospital for Sick Children and University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Kjell Tullus
- Department of Paediatric Nephrology, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom
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Forero-Delgadillo J, Ochoa V, Restrepo JM, Torres-Canchala L, Nieto-Aristizábal I, Ruiz-Ordoñez I, Sánchez A, Barrera MC, Jimenez CA, Tobón GJ. B-cell activating factor (BAFF) and its receptors' expression in pediatric nephrotic syndrome is associated with worse prognosis. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0277800. [PMID: 36399480 PMCID: PMC9674176 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0277800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
AIM Immune pathogenesis of nephrotic syndrome (NS) is not completely understood. We aimed to evaluate the expression of B-cell activating factor (BAFF) and its receptors in renal samples from pediatric NS patients and its relationship with renal function survival. MATERIALS AND METHODS We conducted an ambispective study on 33 patients with pediatric NS. Immunohistochemistry for BAFF, TACI, BCMA and BR3 was performed. Markers were evaluated on podocytes and interstitial inflammatory infiltrates (III). We performed Kaplan-Meier curves to describe renal function survival according to markers' expression. RESULTS Thirty-three NS patients were included. Minimal change disease was seen in 21 (63.6%) patients, and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis in 12 (36.4%). BAFF was found in podocytes (18.2% of samples) and III (36.4% of samples), BAFF-R in one sample, TACI in 4 (podocytes and III), and BCMA in 5 samples of podocytes and 7 of III. BAFF on podocytes and III was associated with worst renal function at follow-up; those patients had 25% probability of having GFR >90 mL/min/1.73m2, versus 84.9% when absent (p = 0.0067). Patients with BAFF in III had 42.9% probability of having GFR>90 mL/min/1.73 m2, versus 94.1% when absent (p = 0.0063). CONCLUSION BAFF expression in renal biopsies could be a prognostic factor for renal function.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Vanessa Ochoa
- Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Icesi, Cali, Colombia
| | - Jaime M Restrepo
- Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Icesi, Cali, Colombia
- Servicio de Nefrología Pediátrica, Fundación Valle del Lili, Cali, Colombia
| | | | | | - Ingrid Ruiz-Ordoñez
- Centro de Investigaciones Clínicas, Fundación Valle del Lili, Cali, Colombia
| | - Aura Sánchez
- Servicio de Patología, Fundación Valle del Lili, Cali, Colombia
| | - María Claudia Barrera
- Universidad Icesi, CIRAT: Centro de Investigación en Reumatología, Autoinmunidad y Medicina Traslacional, Cali, Colombia
| | | | - Gabriel J Tobón
- Universidad Icesi, CIRAT: Centro de Investigación en Reumatología, Autoinmunidad y Medicina Traslacional, Cali, Colombia
- Laboratorio de Inmunología, Fundación Valle del Lili, Cali, Colombia
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Bruschi M, La Porta E, Panfoli I, Candiano G, Petretto A, Vidal E, Kajana X, Bartolucci M, Granata S, Ghiggeri GM, Zaza G, Verrina E. Proteomic profile of mesothelial exosomes isolated from peritoneal dialysis effluent of children with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. Sci Rep 2021; 11:20807. [PMID: 34675284 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-00324-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2021] [Accepted: 10/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is the worldwide recognized preferred dialysis treatment for children affected by end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). However, due to the unphysiological composition of PD fluids, the peritoneal membrane (PM) of these patients may undergo structural and functional alterations, which may cause fibrosis. Several factors may accelerate this process and primary kidney disease may have a causative role. In particular, patients affected by steroid resistant primary focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, a rare glomerular disease leading to nephrotic syndrome and ESKD, seem more prone to develop peritoneal fibrosis. The mechanism causing this predisposition is still unrecognized. To better define this condition, we carried out, for the first time, a new comprehensive comparative proteomic mass spectrometry analysis of mesothelial exosomes from peritoneal dialysis effluent (PDE) of 6 pediatric patients with focal segmental glomerular sclerosis (FSGS) versus 6 patients affected by other primary renal diseases (No FSGS). Our omic study demonstrated that, despite the high overlap in the protein milieu between the two study groups, machine learning allowed to identify a core list of 40 proteins, with ANXA13 as most promising potential biomarker, to distinguish, in our patient population, peritoneal dialysis effluent exosomes of FSGS from No FSGS patients (with 100% accuracy). Additionally, the Weight Gene Co-expression Network Analysis algorithm identified 17 proteins, with PTP4A1 as the most statistically significant biomarker associated to PD vintage and decreased PM function. Altogether, our data suggest that mesothelial cells of FSGS patients are more prone to activate a pro-fibrotic machinery. The role of the proposed biomarkers in the PM pathology deserves further investigation. Our results need further investigations in a larger population to corroborate these findings and investigate a possible increased risk of PM loss of function or development of encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis in FSGS patients, thus to eventually carry out changes in PD treatment and management or implement new solutions.
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