TY - JOUR T1 - Rituximab-treated membranous lupus nephritis: clinical outcome and effects on electron dense deposits JF - Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases JO - Ann Rheum Dis SP - 1172 LP - 1173 DO - 10.1136/ard.2010.129288 VL - 70 IS - 6 AU - Thórunn Jónsdóttir AU - Birgitta Sundelin AU - Elisabet Welin Henriksson AU - Ronald F van Vollenhoven AU - Iva Gunnarsson Y1 - 2011/06/01 UR - http://ard.bmj.com/content/70/6/1172.abstract N2 - Membranous lupus nephritis (MLN) is characterised by proteinuria, a risk of the development of nephrotic syndrome and progressive deterioration in renal function. Despite the usage of various immunosuppressive agents, no solid, evidence-based recommendations for the treatment of MLN have been established and new therapeutic strategies are needed in therapy-resistant cases.1During the past few years, rituximab has evolved as a promising new agent in severe lupus nephritis.2,–,4 The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical and histopathological response to treatment with rituximab plus cyclophosphamide in patients with severe and therapy-resistant MLN.Six female patients with MLN confirmed at a recent renal biopsy were included. The patients were selected for having proteinuria of 2 g/24 h or greater and recent/previous failure of conventional immunosuppressive agents. All patients were treated with ACE and/or, angiotensin II receptor blockers. In all cases, at least four of the American College of Rheumatology criteria for … ER -