Background There is scarcity of data on impact of rituximab on anthropometrical parameters (weight, height and body mass index i.e. BMI SD score (SDS)) among children with steroid-dependent nephrotic syndromes (SDNS).

Methods Multicentre retrospective review.

Results 102 children with SDNS (male: 63%; n=64), median age 7 (IQR: 4.3–9.6) years, received a total of 217 rituximab infusions (total 110 cycles). At median follow-up of 2.1 (IQR: 1.3–2.8) years, 58 (57%) children were off steroids and a significant fall in steroid threshold for relapse was noted (median 0.6; IQR 0.4–0.9 to median 0.3; IQR 0.12 - 0.5 mg/kg/alternate day, p=0.005). Anthropometric parameters (BMI SDS: 0.92±1.8 to 0.25±1.47, p=0.003; weight SDS: 0.20±1.6 to −0.11±1.3, p=0.01; and height SDS: −0.93±1.88 to −0.45±1.54, p=0.04) as well as obesity (38% to 20%, p=0.003) and short stature (11% to 3%, p=0.02) improved. Results remained significant even when analysis was restricted to children ≤12 years (n=88), (BMI SDS: 0.97±1.98 to 0.25±1.5, p=0.001; weight SDS: 0.33±1.6 to 0.02±1.2, p=0.01; and height SDS: −0.67±1.84 to −0.186±1.42, p=0.001).

Conclusions Use of rituximab resulted in significant steroid sparing effect with an improvement in both growth and obesity parameters.