Low- and high-molecular-weight urinary proteins as predictors of response to rituximab in patients with membranous nephropathy: a prospective study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Selective urinary biomarkers have been considered superior to total proteinuria in predicting response to treatment and outcome in patients with membranous nephropathy (MN).

Methods

We prospectively tested whether urinary (U) excretion of retinol-binding protein (RBP), α1-microglobulin (α1M), albumin, immunoglobulin IgG and IgM and/or anti-phospholipase 2 receptor (PLA(2)R) levels could predict response to rituximab (RTX) therapy better than standard measures in MN. We also correlated changes in antibodies to PLA(2)R with these urinary biomarkers.

Results

Twenty patients with MN and proteinuria (P) >5 g/24 h received RTX (375 mg/m(2) × 4) and at 12 months, 1 patient was in complete remission (CR), 9 were in partial remission (PR), 5 had a limited response (

SUBMITTER: Irazabal MV 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3616763 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature