Rituximab Achieves Moderate Renal Response in Difficult Lupus Nephritis
This pooled synthesis quantifies renal response rates after rituximab escalation in relapsing or refractory lupus nephritis, a population underrepresented in randomized trials.
📅 Journal publication: Oct 2026·Last updated: Oct 8, 2026
Rituximab provides moderate renal benefits in hard-to-treat lupus nephritis cases.
Lupus nephritis (LN) is a challenging condition to manage, especially when it relapses or becomes refractory to standard treatments. This review evaluates the effectiveness of Rituximab (RTX) as an adjunct therapy. The pooled complete renal response (CRR) rates for RTX were 33%, 41%, and 42% at 6, 12, and 24 months, respectively, with significant reductions in proteinuria and serum creatinine. RTX shows potential as an adjunct therapy for relapsing or refractory LN, but further prospective studies are needed to confirm its role and optimize its use. Rituximab may offer moderate benefits in difficult-to-treat lupus nephritis.
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Authors:Wang X, Liang S, Sun X, Wang F, Tang G, Deng W, Li M, Wang Q, Dong Z
Citation:Wang X, Liang S, Sun X, et al. Rituximab as Rescue or Add-On Therapy for Relapsing or Refractory Lupus Nephritis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Clinical and translational science. 2026;19(10):e70730. doi:10.1111/cts.70730
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