Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39891089›Full record

ArticleBMC nephrology2025

Exploration of rituximab treatment strategies for membranous nephropathy adapted to the Chinese healthcare environment.

Xiaolong Wang, Xueying Cao, Jie Wu, Shuang Liang, Jian Yang, Hong Wang

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC nephrology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Xiaolong WangDepartment of Nephrology, State Key Laboratory of Kidney Diseases, Beijing Key Laboratory of Kidney Diseases, First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Chinese PLA Institute of Nephrology, National Clinical Research Center for Kidney Diseases, Beijing, China.
Xueying CaoDepartment of Nephrology, State Key Laboratory of Kidney Diseases, Beijing Key Laboratory of Kidney Diseases, First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Chinese PLA Institute of Nephrology, National Clinical Research Center for Kidney Diseases, Beijing, China. 18911622536@163.com.
Jie WuDepartment of Nephrology, State Key Laboratory of Kidney Diseases, Beijing Key Laboratory of Kidney Diseases, First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Chinese PLA Institute of Nephrology, National Clinical Research Center for Kidney Diseases, Beijing, China. wujie301@126.com.
Shuang LiangDepartment of Nephrology, State Key Laboratory of Kidney Diseases, Beijing Key Laboratory of Kidney Diseases, First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Chinese PLA Institute of Nephrology, National Clinical Research Center for Kidney Diseases, Beijing, China.
Jian YangDepartment of Nephrology, State Key Laboratory of Kidney Diseases, Beijing Key Laboratory of Kidney Diseases, First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Chinese PLA Institute of Nephrology, National Clinical Research Center for Kidney Diseases, Beijing, China.
Hong WangDepartment of Nephrology, State Key Laboratory of Kidney Diseases, Beijing Key Laboratory of Kidney Diseases, First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Chinese PLA Institute of Nephrology, National Clinical Research Center for Kidney Diseases, Beijing, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeThis study aimed to explore the specific efficacy of rituximab (RTX) in the treatment of membranous nephropathy (MN) and compare and analyze the differences in effectiveness among various treatment regimens, with the objective of identifying the optimal treatment protocol suitable for the medical environment in China. PATIENTS AND

methodsThis retrospective study focused on patients with MN who were treated with RTX and hospitalized at the First Medical Center of PLA General Hospital between January 1, 2019, and December 30, 2022. These patients were followed up for more than one year. We collected clinical data from these patients and categorized them into three groups on the basis of their RTX treatment background: the combined glucocorticoids (GCs) and/or immunosuppressants (IMS) and RTX monotherapy treatment groups, the initial and non-initial treatment groups, and the standard RTX and non-standard RTX treatment groups. The study evaluated the comprehensive outcomes of complete or partial remission during follow-up, as well as relapses after remission. Additionally, Cox regression analysis was conducted to identify risk factors influencing patient remission and relapse.

resultsA total of 126 patients were enrolled in this study, with an average age of 49.0 ± 13.4 years. Among them, males accounted for up to 77.8%, with an average BMI of 26.7 ± 4.0. Among these patients, 59.5% (75/126) received RTX combined with GCs and/or IMS. Statistical results revealed that the combined use of GCs and/or the IMS had no significant effect on renal remission (P = 0.439), but it accelerated the process of renal remission (P = 0.010). A total of 34.9% (42/126) of patients chose RTX as the initial treatment. Compared with the non-initial treatment group, this choice did not significantly differ in terms of efficacy or faster remission speed (all P > 0.05). On the other hand, 39.7% (50/126) of patients received the standard RTX treatment regimen. Compared with the non-standard group, the standard RTX treatment group presented a better remission rate (P < 0.001) and a faster remission speed (P = 0.027). During 13.0 (12.0, 20.0) months of follow-up, the cumulative remission rate reached 73% (92/126), including 47.6% (60/126) of patients with partial remission (PR) and 25.4% (32/126) of patients with complete remission (CR). The cumulative relapse rate was 20.7% (26/126). In addition, 17.5% (22/126) of patients experienced adverse reactions. Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that the standard RTX treatment regimen was associated with a better remission rate, whereas comorbid diabetes reduced the remission rate. Older age and higher white blood cell counts may lead to a higher relapse rate.

conclusionThis study revealed that RTX treatment has a high remission rate and a low relapse rate in MN patients. The standard RTX treatment regimen can provide better benefits. However, our experience is limited by its retrospective design and relatively small sample size, and further large-scale randomized controlled studies are needed to confirm our preliminary findings.

Indexed as

Glomerulonephritis, MembranousImmunologic FactorsImmunosuppressive AgentsRituximabAdultChinaDrug Therapy, CombinationFemaleGlucocorticoidsHumansMaleMiddle AgedRecurrenceRemission InductionRetrospective StudiesTreatment OutcomeGlucocorticoidsImmunologic FactorsImmunosuppressive AgentsRituximabMembranous nephropathyRelapseRemissionRituximab

Identifiers

PMID39891089
PMCPMC11786413

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.