scholarly journals Leflunomide therapy for adult patients with steroid-dependent minimal change disease or primary focal segmental glomerulosclerosis

2021 ◽  
Vol Publish Ahead of Print ◽  
Author(s):  
Chen-Yang Zhao ◽  
Zhao Cui ◽  
Yi-Miao Zhang ◽  
Fang Wang ◽  
Xin Wang ◽  
...  
2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cheng Xue ◽  
Bo Yang ◽  
Jing Xu ◽  
Chenchen Zhou ◽  
Liming Zhang ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The efficacy and safety of rituximab (RTX) in adult frequent-relapsing (FR) or steroid-dependent (SD) nephrotic syndrome (NS), including minimal change disease (MCD) or focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), are still inconclusive. Methods We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis registered in  PROSPERO (CRD42019148102) by pooling data of cohort studies or case series on adult patients with difficult-to-treat NS. Steroid-resistant NS was excluded. The primary outcomes were the complete remission (CR) rate and the relapse rate. Partial remission (PR) rate, no response (NR) rate and adverse events were the secondary outcomes. A random-effects model was performed for all the outcomes. Results We included 21 studies involving 382 adult MCD/FSGS subjects with a median follow-up duration from 12 to 43 months. RTX treatment induced a pooled 84.2% CR rate [95% confidence interval (CI): 67.7–96.3%], while MCD patients had a high 91.6% CR rate and FSGS patients a moderate 43% CR rate. However, 27.4% (95% CI 20.7–34.5%) of the patients relapsed during the follow-up. The pooled PR and NR rates were 5.8% (95% CI 1.2–12.5%) and 5.2% (95% CI 0.0–15.0%), respectively. RTX was associated with trivial adverse events and good tolerance. Conclusions In summary, by pooling results of current pilot studies, RTX may be an effective and relatively safe alternative for most adult FR or SD MCD/FSGS to displace calcineurin inhibitors or prednisone in the hierarchy of treatment. More clinical trials comparing RTX with other immunosuppressants and concerning the long-term adverse events are needed.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (24) ◽  
pp. 5847
Author(s):  
Lucia Del Vecchio ◽  
Marco Allinovi ◽  
Paolo Rocco ◽  
Bruno Brando

Rituximab is a chimeric anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody. It acts mainly through complement-dependent cytotoxicity on B cells expressing the CD20 marker. In this review, we analyse the efficacy and possible pitfalls of rituximab to treat nephrotic syndromes by taking into account pharmacological considerations and CD19 marker testing utility. Despite the fact that the drug has been in use for years, efficacy and treatment schedules in adults with nephrotic syndrome are still a matter of debate. Clinical trials have proven the efficacy and safety of rituximab in idiopathic membranous nephropathy. Data from observational studies also showed the efficacy of rituximab in minimal change disease and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. Rituximab use is now widely recommended by new Kidney Disease Improved Outcome (KDIGO) guidelines in membranous nephropathy and in frequent-relapsing, steroid-dependent minimal change disease or focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. However, rituximab response has a large interindividual variability. One reason could be that rituximab is lost in the urine at a higher extent in patients with nonselective nephrotic proteinuria, exposing patients to different rituximab plasma levels. Moreover, the association between CD19+ levels and clinical response or relapses is not always present, making the use of this marker in clinical practice complex. High resolution flow cytometry has increased the capability of detecting residual CD19+ B cells. Moreover, it can identify specific B-cell subsets (including IgG-switched memory B cells), which can repopulate at different rates. Its wider use could become a useful tool for better understanding reasons of rituximab failure or avoiding unnecessary retreatments.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Takaya Ozeki ◽  
Shoichi Maruyama ◽  
Toshiyuki Imasawa ◽  
Takehiko Kawaguchi ◽  
Hiroshi Kitamura ◽  
...  

AbstractFocal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) is a serious condition leading to kidney failure. We aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics of FSGS and its differences compared with minimal change disease (MCD) using cross-sectional data from the Japan Renal Biopsy Registry. In Analysis 1, primary FSGS (n = 996) were stratified by age into three groups: pediatric (< 18 years), adult (18–64 years), and elderly (≥ 65 years), and clinical characteristics were compared. Clinical diagnosis of nephrotic syndrome (NS) was given to 73.5% (97/132) of the pediatric, 41.2% (256/622) of the adult, and 65.7% (159/242) of the elderly group. In Analysis 2, primary FSGS (n = 306) and MCD (n = 1303) whose clinical diagnosis was nephrotic syndrome (NS) and laboratory data were consistent with NS, were enrolled. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to elucidate the variables which can distinguish FSGS from MCD. On multivariable analysis, higher systolic blood pressure, higher serum albumin, lower eGFR, and presence of hematuria associated with FSGS. In Japanese nationwide registry, primary FSGS patients aged 18–64 years showed lower rate of NS than those in other ages. Among primary nephrotic cases, FSGS showed distinct clinical features from MCD.


Author(s):  
Patrick Niaudet ◽  
Alain Meyrier

It is now well established that the podocyte, and in particular the slit diaphragm structure, are critical to the barrier to serum albumin entering glomerular filtrate in large quantities. In minimal change disease there is proteinuria without podocyte death, whereas in focal segmental glomerulosclerosis there is not only podocyte dysfunction but also podocyte loss.


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