Copyright
©2014 Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Clin Pediatr. Nov 8, 2014; 3(4): 69-75
Published online Nov 8, 2014. doi: 10.5409/wjcp.v3.i4.69
Published online Nov 8, 2014. doi: 10.5409/wjcp.v3.i4.69
Rituximab for troublesome cases of childhood nephrotic syndrome
Osama Y Safdar, Adila Aboualhameael, Jameela A Kari, Department of Pediatrics, King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
Osama Y Safdar, Jameela A Kari, Pediatric Nephrology Unit, King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
Author contributions: Safdar OY and Aboualhameael A wrote the provisional paper; Kari JA supervised the work and edited the manuscript.
Correspondence to: Jameela A Kari, FRCP, MD, Department of Pediatrics, King Abdulaziz University, PO Box 80215, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia. jkari@kau.edu.sa
Telephone: +996-2-505677904 Fax: +996-2-6684603
Received: June 21, 2014
Revised: September 2, 2014
Accepted: October 23, 2014
Published online: November 8, 2014
Processing time: 152 Days and 2.7 Hours
Revised: September 2, 2014
Accepted: October 23, 2014
Published online: November 8, 2014
Processing time: 152 Days and 2.7 Hours
Core Tip
Core tip: Nephrotic syndrome (NS) is the most common pediatric glomerular disease. Although outcomes are favorable, the treatment of complicated nephrotic syndrome can be challenging. Rituximab (RTX) offers a safe and effective alternative to current immunosuppressive therapies for complicated cases of NS. The best outcomes are seen in patients with steroid-dependent NS who have failed to respond to multiple therapies. However, the benefits of RTX therapy are limited in patients with steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome. Successful RTX therapy induces prolonged remission and enables discontinuation of other medications without increasing the risk of infection and other adverse events.