ABSTRACT
The study aimed to analyze the efficacy and safety of rituximab in the treatment of 23 cases of lupus nephritis and explore the prospect of half-dose rituximab in lupus nephritis treatment. Twenty-three patients with lupus nephritis hospitalized in the Department of Rheumatology and Immunology at the First Medical Center of the PLA General Hospital from May 2013 to December 2021 were selected. Eighteen patients received rituximab 375 mg/m 2 on the first and 14th days, 5 patients received 500 mg of rituximab on the first and 14th days, and rituximab was used as needed 6 months later. Methylprednisolone (80-120 mg) was given together with rituximab. Afterward, 1 mg/kg prednisone was used for 4 weeks, which was progressively tapered to maintenance doses or discontinued. B lymphocyte level, renal function, 24-h urine protein level, and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) disease activity index 2000 (SLEDAI2K) score before and after treatment were recorded. The efficacy and adverse reactions were analyzed. The results showed that 11 patients suffered from renal insufficiency [creatinine (162.7±58.6) μmol/L ] at baseline, while the creatinine level of 9 patients returned to normal 12 months after the treatment [ (66.3±10.1)μmol/L ]. Normal renal function of the other 12 patients was maintained during treatment. After 12 months, the 24-h urine protein level decreased from 4.00 (2.00,6.80) g in the baseline period to 0.10 (0.08,0.40) g. SLEDAI2K score decreased from 22 (18,26) in the baseline period to 3 (0,6) 12 months after the treatment. The B lymphocyte level reached 0.00 (0.00,0.01)% at 3 months. Of 23 patients, 13 patients achieved complete remission, and 7 patients achieved partial remission after 6 months of rituximab treatment. Five patients experienced adverse reactions related to rituximab, including 1 case of transfusion reaction, 1 case of perioral herpes with pulmonary infection, and 3 cases of decreased IgG levels. Therefore, rituximab regimen used in this study can be an effective treatment strategy for lupus nephritis.
ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the significance of glomerular deposition of C4d in accessing the severity and prognosis of IgA nephropathy. Methods A total of 131 patients were recruited for the study. Immunofluorescence was used to detect the deposition of C4d in renal tissue of pa?tients with IgA nephropathy,and the relationship between C4d deposition and clinical and pathological parameters and renal remission was ana?lyzed. Results Totally 30 patients had glomerular deposition of C4d. Compared with the patients without C4d deposition,the patients with C4d deposition had significantly higher levels of serum creatinine,urinary protein excretion and C4d and higher prevalence of hypertension,but had sig?nificantly decreased levels of glomerular filtration rates. With the histopathological phenotypes segregated by Lee 's classification,the ratios of C4d deposition presented an increase(P=0.005). The patients with C4d deposition had more severe mesangial proliferation,endocapillary hypercellu?larity,segmental glomerulosclerosis and tubular?interstitial injury. The rates of renal remission were significantly lower in IgA nephropathy patients with C4d deposition than those without C4d deposition(P<0.001). Conclusion IgA nephropathy patients with C4d deposition have more se?vere clinical and pathological manifestations and lower rate of renal remission. Glomerular C4d deposition is expected to be an important pathologi?cal prognostic factor for predicting the prognosis of IgA nephropathy.