Table 1.
Baseline characteristics of study population before rituximab therapy.
| Characteristic | Patients (n = 48) |
|---|---|
| Male sex, n (%) | 33 (68.8) |
| Age, years | 47.88 ± 16.93 |
| Smoker, n (%) | 8 (16.7) |
| Drinker, n (%) | 6 (12.5) |
| BMI, kg/m2 | 24.85 ± 3.52 |
| Systolic BP, mmHg | 135.08 ± 17.34 |
| Diastolic BP, mmHg | 82.75 ± 10.74 |
| Serum creatinine, µmol/L | 94.65 ± 44.58 |
| eGFR, mL/min/1.73 m2 | 84.65 ± 32.69 |
| Proteinuria, g/24 h | 6.77 ± 3.9 |
| <4 g, n (%) | 13 (27.0) |
| 4–8 g, n (%) | 19 (39.6) |
| >8 g, n (%) | 26 (33.3) |
| Albumin, g/L | 24.56 ± 6.55 |
| Total cholesterol, mmol/L | 6.09 (4.46,7.62) |
| Triglycerides, mmol/L | 2.19 (1.50,3.54) |
| Receiving ACEI/ARB, n (%) | 37 (77.1) |
| Receiving statin, n (%) | 31 (64.6) |
| Disease duration, months | 29.5 (12,60) |
| Reason of refractory | |
| Steroid dependent, n (%) | 4 (8.3) |
| Steroid resistant, n (%) | 3 (6.3) |
| Frequently relapsing, n (%) | 11 (22.9) |
| Steroid intolerant, n (%) | 5 (10.4) |
| Resistant to immunosuppression, n (%) | 25 (52.1) |
| Immunosuppressive therapy before RTX | |
| Steroid only, n (%) | 12 (25.0) |
| Cyclosporine or tacrolimus, n (%) | 24 (50.0) |
| Cyclophosphamide, n (%) | 10 (20.8) |
| Mycophenolate, n (%) | 1 (2.1) |
| Others, n (%) | 1 (2.1) |
| Prior immunosuppressive therapy | |
| Steroid only, n (%) | 12 (25.0) |
| One round of immunosuppression, n (%) | 10 (20.8) |
| Two rounds of immunosuppression, n (%) | 13 (27.1) |
| Three rounds of immunosuppression, n (%) | 13 (27.1) |
| Renal histologic pathology | |
| MCD, n (%) | 15 (31.3) |
| FSGS, n (%) | 5 (10.4) |
| MN, n (%) | 26 (54.2) |
| MPGN, n (%) | 2 (4.2) |
| Diabetes, n (%) | 9 (16.7) |
| Hypertension, n (%) | 22 (45.8) |
ACEI: angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor; ARB: angiotensin receptor antagonist; eGFR: estimated glomerular filtration rate; FSGS: focal segmental glomerulosclerosis; MCD: minimal change disease; MN: membranous nephropathy; MPGN: membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis