Rituximab in severe lupus nephritis: early B-cell depletion affects long-term renal outcome.

Background And Objectives: Standard treatment for lupus nephritis, including corticosteroids and cyclophosphamide, is efficient but is still associated with refractory or relapsing disease, or severe deleterious effects. Rituximab, a monoclonal chimeric anti-B cell antibody, is increasingly used in patients with lupus nephritis, but reported series were small and had a short follow-up.

Design, Setting, Participants, & Measurements: The authors analyzed clinical and histologic data of 20 patients who were treated with rituximab for lupus nephritis and followed up for at least 12 mo.