Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40050772›Full record

ArticleBMC nephrology2025

Long-term efficacy of Rituximab in steroid dependent and frequent relapsing adult nephrotic syndrome.

Omri Feder, Dana Amsterdam, Mohamad Ershed, Ayelet Grupper, Doron Schwartz, Orit Kliuk-Ben Bassat

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC nephrology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Omri Feder *Department of Internal Medicine H, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel-Aviv, Israel. Omri.feder@gmail.com.
Dana Amsterdam *Department of Internal Medicine H, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel-Aviv, Israel.
Mohamad ErshedDivision of Oncology, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel-Aviv, Israel.ORCID 0009-0005-5092-517X
Ayelet GrupperDepartment of Nephrology and Hypertension, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel-Aviv, Israel.
Doron SchwartzDepartment of Nephrology and Hypertension, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel-Aviv, Israel.
Orit Kliuk-Ben BassatDepartment of Nephrology and Hypertension, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel-Aviv, Israel.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundCorticosteroids are highly efficient for treatment of minimal change disease (MCD), however a substantial number of patients become steroid dependent (SD) or frequent relapsing (FR). Response rate is lower in primary Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). Since prolonged exposure to corticosteroids should be avoided, an effective alternative is required. Rituximab is a promising agent. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of Rituximab in adults with SD/FR nephrotic syndrome (NS).

methodsA retrospective cohort study, evaluating patients with SD/FR NS treated with Rituximab in a tertiary hospital. Rituximab was given at induction, with additional doses subjected to the treating nephrologist decision. Primary outcome was number of relapses and time to first relapse. Safety was assessed.

resultsTwenty-one adults were included. Among them, 14 (66.7%) were diagnosed with MCD, 5 (23.8%) with FSGS, in 2 cases kidney biopsies were not performed. Median age was 54.6 years. Median follow up was 39.6 months. Number of relapses decreased significantly after Rituximab compared to before treatment (median relapses 0 compared to 3, respectively, W = 3.70, p <.001). Time to first relapse was significantly shorter before Rituximab compared to after (median 11 vs. 536 days, respectively, W = 3.05, p =.002). Hazzard Ratio for relapse was higher in patients who received one Rituximab course compared to those who received an additional maintenance (HR = 4.31, 95% CI: 1.13-16.39, p =.032). Treatment was well-tolerated, serious adverse events included cholecystitis and severe COVID-19.

conclusionsRituximab emerges as an efficient safe steroid sparing in patients with SD/FR NS, with longer remission achieved when an additional maintenance dose is given after the first course.

Indexed as

Immunologic FactorsNephrosis, LipoidNephrotic SyndromeRituximabAdrenal Cortex HormonesAdultAgedFemaleGlomerulosclerosis, Focal SegmentalHumansMaleMiddle AgedRecurrenceRetrospective StudiesTreatment OutcomeAdrenal Cortex HormonesImmunologic FactorsRituximabFrequent relapsingNephrotic syndromeRituximabSteroid dependent

Identifiers

PMID40050772
PMCPMC11887153

What Socratic holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.