Rituximab for Idiopathic Nephrotic Syndrome

Summary

Open-label, randomized, controlled trial due to value whether the monoclonal antibody rituximab is non-inferior to steroids in maintaining remission in juvenile forms of SDNS. The investigators will enroll 30 pediatric patients affected by idiopathic nephrotic syndrome, who have been in treatment with steroids for at least one year. The lowest dose of drug required to maintain a stable remission will be between 0.4 and 0.7 mg/ kg/ day. This trial provides an initial run-in phase of one month during wich remission will be achieved by means of a standard oral prednisone course. Once remission has been achieved children will be randomized in a parallel arm open label RCT to continue prednisone alone for one month (control) or to add a single intravenous infusion of rituximab (375 mg/m2 - intervention). Prednisone will be tapered in both arms after one month.

Timeline

Start

2013-07

Primary completion

2016-12

Completion

2016-12

Publications

• Background Ravani P, Ponticelli A, Siciliano C, Fornoni A, Magnasco A, Sica F, Bodria M, Caridi G, Wei C, Belingheri M, Ghio L, Merscher-Gomez S, Edefonti A, Pasini A, Montini G, Murtas C, Wang X, Muruve D, Vaglio A, Martorana D, Pani A, Scolari F, Reiser J, Ghiggeri GM. Rituximab is a safe and effective long-term treatment for children with steroid and calcineurin inhibitor-dependent idiopathic nephrotic syndrome. Kidney Int. 2013 Nov;84(5):1025-33. doi: 10.1038/ki.2013.211. Epub 2013 Jun 5.
• Background Ghiggeri GM, Musante L, Candiano G, Bruschi M, Santucci L, Barbano G, Trivelli A, Rivabella L, Gusmano R, Perfumo F. Protracted remission of proteinuria after combined therapy with plasmapheresis and anti-CD20 antibodies/cyclophosphamide in a child with oligoclonal IgM and glomerulosclerosis. Pediatr Nephrol. 2007 Nov;22(11):1953-6. doi: 10.1007/s00467-007-0550-y. Epub 2007 Jul 28.
• Background Pescovitz MD, Book BK, Sidner RA. Resolution of recurrent focal segmental glomerulosclerosis proteinuria after rituximab treatment. N Engl J Med. 2006 May 4;354(18):1961-3. doi: 10.1056/NEJMc055495. No abstract available.
• Background Magnasco A, Ravani P, Edefonti A, Murer L, Ghio L, Belingheri M, Benetti E, Murtas C, Messina G, Massella L, Porcellini MG, Montagna M, Regazzi M, Scolari F, Ghiggeri GM. Rituximab in children with resistant idiopathic nephrotic syndrome. J Am Soc Nephrol. 2012 Jun;23(6):1117-24. doi: 10.1681/ASN.2011080775. Epub 2012 May 10.
• Background Ravani P, Magnasco A, Edefonti A, Murer L, Rossi R, Ghio L, Benetti E, Scozzola F, Pasini A, Dallera N, Sica F, Belingheri M, Scolari F, Ghiggeri GM. Short-term effects of rituximab in children with steroid- and calcineurin-dependent nephrotic syndrome: a randomized controlled trial. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2011 Jun;6(6):1308-15. doi: 10.2215/CJN.09421010. Epub 2011 May 12.
• Background Ruggenenti P, Ruggiero B, Cravedi P, Vivarelli M, Massella L, Marasa M, Chianca A, Rubis N, Ene-Iordache B, Rudnicki M, Pollastro RM, Capasso G, Pisani A, Pennesi M, Emma F, Remuzzi G; Rituximab in Nephrotic Syndrome of Steroid-Dependent or Frequently Relapsing Minimal Change Disease Or Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis (NEMO) Study Group. Rituximab in steroid-dependent or frequently relapsing idiopathic nephrotic syndrome. J Am Soc Nephrol. 2014 Apr;25(4):850-63. doi: 10.1681/ASN.2013030251. Epub 2014 Jan 30.
• Background Guigonis V, Dallocchio A, Baudouin V, Dehennault M, Hachon-Le Camus C, Afanetti M, Groothoff J, Llanas B, Niaudet P, Nivet H, Raynaud N, Taque S, Ronco P, Bouissou F. Rituximab treatment for severe steroid- or cyclosporine-dependent nephrotic syndrome: a multicentric series of 22 cases. Pediatr Nephrol. 2008 Aug;23(8):1269-79. doi: 10.1007/s00467-008-0814-1. Epub 2008 May 9.
• Background Fernandez-Fresnedo G, Segarra A, Gonzalez E, Alexandru S, Delgado R, Ramos N, Egido J, Praga M; Trabajo de Enfermedades Glomerulares de la Sociedad Espanola de Nefrologia (GLOSEN). Rituximab treatment of adult patients with steroid-resistant focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2009 Aug;4(8):1317-23. doi: 10.2215/CJN.00570109. Epub 2009 Jul 2.
• Larkins NG, Hahn D, Liu ID, Willis NS, Craig JC, Hodson EM. Non-corticosteroid immunosuppressive medications for steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome in children. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2024 Nov 8;11(11):CD002290. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD002290.pub6.

Drugs

Indications