Additive Obinutuzumab Achieves High Remission Rates in Rituximab-Refractory Membranous Nephropathy

Introduction: Rituximab has become the first-line therapy for patients with membranous nephropathy (MN). However, approximately 30-40% of patients with MN do not respond to rituximab. We presented our single-center experience of treating rituximab-refractory MN with obinutuzumab which is a humanized and glycoengineered type II anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody.

Seventeen patients with rituximab-refractory phospholipase A₂ receptor (PLA₂R)-associated MN who received obinutuzumab at the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University were included in this case series study. Clinical and laboratory parameters were evaluated at presentation, before and after obinutuzumab administration.

Of all patients with an average age of 49.7 ± 13.7 years, 11 (64.7%) patients were men. The median disease duration was 12 (12, 42) months. At presentation, the proteinuria and serum albumin levels were 7.51 ± 3.55 g/day and 22.1 ± 3.6 g/L, respectively. The mean estimated glomerular filtration rate level was 103.5 ± 12.9 mL/min/1.73 m2, and the patients had a baseline anti-PLA₂R level of 183.2 ± 92.9 RU/mL. At obinutuzumab administration, proteinuria and albumin levels were still consistent with nephrotic syndrome. After a median follow-up of 12.6 ± 5.0 months, complete remission was achieved in 9 (52.9%) and partial remission was achieved in 6 (41.2%) cases. Of the patients who achieved remission, the median remission time was 4.4 (4.0, 6.0) months. At 6 months, 12 (70.6%) patients achieved remission and 11 of 12 patients with available PLA₂R measurements reached immunological remission.

Obinutuzumab may represent an attractive alternative therapy in rituximab-refractory patients. Larger prospective studies are needed to validate these findings.