Minimal change disease with maximum immunosuppression: successful treatment of steroid-dependent minimal change disease with rituximab. (5th February 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pinto, Helena; Oliveira, Nuno; Costa, Fátima; Alves, Rui
• Is Part Of: BMJ case reports. Volume 2018
• Publication Date: 2018-02-05
• Subjects: renal system -- nephrotic syndrome -- therapeutic indications; Medicine -- Case studies -- Periodicals; 610.5
• DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2017-223407
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1757-790X

Abstract

Abstract : Minimal change disease (MCD) is usually steroid sensitive, although in case of steroid dependent and multiple relapses we can struggle with different immunosuppressive agents, sometimes with no response. Rituximab has been emerging as an alternative therapeutic option. We describe a case of a young patient with MCD that had frequent relapses and steroid dependency, with no response to several immunosuppressive agents during 15 years of disease. He was kept under high-dose steroids and ciclosporin. He started treatment with rituximab (two administrations of 1 g 2 weeks apart, repeating after 6 months). The steroids dose was gradually reduced and the ciclosporin was stopped. During the entire 2 years follow-up period, he remained in remission and had no adverse events. This remarkable outcome reinforces the option of using rituximab in difficult cases, allowing the reduction of steroid burden and its adverse effects, which is of extreme importance, especially in young patients.