Outcomes with the use of rituximab in patients with refractory lupus nephritis in a Colombian cohort

Introduction/Objective

To describe the safety and response to treatment with RTX, estimating its impact on the health state utility (HSU) of patients with refractory lupus nephritis (LN) treated in referral centres in several cities in Colombia.

Materials and methods

A registry-based follow-up study. Patients aged between 16 and 75 years, who were refractory to first-line management and had ISN / RPS class III-IV (+/- V) LN, were included. Our primary outcome was total or partial response to treatment; secondary outcomes were HSU measured with the EQ-5D-3 L, and safety of treatment with RTX. The impact analysis of response to RTX on HSU were performed by mean difference estimated by robust regression.

Results

Forty-six patients (44 women) were included, with a median age of 34 years (IQR = 13), the median SDI was 1 (IQR = 1) and the median activity measured by SLEDAI was 4.5 (IQR = 5.9). Response to RTX was observed in 27 (58.7%) patients. Adjusted for SLEDAI and co-interventions, the patients who responded to RTX obtained a higher mean HSU by 0.162 (95% CI 0.006–0.317). Which is equivalent to 1.9 (95% CI 0.2–3.8) more months lived in ideal health conditions for each year with refractory LN. In 54.3% of the patients, RTX had adequate safety.

Conclusion

From the patient's perspective, the response to treatment with RTX in patients with refractory LN implies a significant impact on their quality of life.