Article Text
Abstract
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.
- nephrology
- therapeutics
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Footnotes
Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.
Competing interests None declared.
Patient consent for publication Not required.
Ethics approval Ethical approval was obtained (ICH/51/2017).
Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.
Data availability statement Data are available upon reasonable request.
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