ASN's Mission

To create a world without kidney diseases, the ASN Alliance for Kidney Health elevates care by educating and informing, driving breakthroughs and innovation, and advocating for policies that create transformative changes in kidney medicine throughout the world.

learn more

Contact ASN

1401 H St, NW, Ste 900, Washington, DC 20005

email@asn-online.org

202-640-4660

The Latest on X

Kidney Week

Please note that you are viewing an archived section from 2023 and some content may be unavailable. To unlock all content for 2023, please visit the archives.

Abstract: TH-PO693

Obinutuzumab with Tacrolimus as a Bridge for Membranous Nephropathy

Session Information

Category: Glomerular Diseases

  • 1402 Glomerular Diseases: Clinical, Outcomes, and Trials

Authors

  • Patel, Himanshu, Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, New York, United States
  • Jhaveri, Kenar D., Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, New York, United States
Introduction

Treatment of Membranous Nephropathy (MN) has been improving over the past several years. Obinutuzumab, a monoclonal antibody that targets CD20 on B-cells, is another potential therapeutic approach under investigation. Currently, Obinutuzumab is approved for the treatment of specific tumors such chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Case Description

We describe a 64-year-old male with a history of benign essential hypertension, stage 3a chronic kidney disease presenting with worsening proteinuria. Eight years prior to presentation, he was diagnosed with MN, and at that time, he was anti-Phospholipase A2 Receptor (PLA2R) antibody negative with 4gm of proteinuria. He was started on tacrolimus and got 1 year of treatment leading to remission. He relapsed months after stopping tacrolimus and his PLA2R antibody titers rose to 11 RU/mL with worsening proteinuria. He was started on cyclosporine and continued it for over 7 years and was discontinued a year before presentation. At the time of presentation, he had 3gm of proteinuria and was started on dapagliflozin and two infusions of rituximab with 1gm each two weeks apart with some initial allergic reaction but then completed the infusions without complications. A year later, he relapsed and PLA2R antibodies rose to 23.5 RU/mL and proteinuria of 11gm. He was given two infusions of Obinutuzumab with 1gm each two weeks apart given his sub-optimal prior response to rituximab and allergic reaction to the drug along with a tacrolimus bridge. His proteinuria improved to 2gm with serum a creatinine of 1.2mg/dL. He was taken off tacrolimus few months post Obinutuzumab treatment. He continues SGLT2i and ARB therapy as well.

Discussion

Obinutuzumab is a more potent anti B cell agent that may be a promising therapy for MN. Using Obinutuzumab along with tacrolimus as a bridge to get the response of MN may serve as a potential long-term therapy for MN.