How would you approach a patient with class III and V lupus nephritis, already on HCQ, MMF, voclosporin and losartan, but has continued proteinuria not yet attaining complete renal response?
Would you consider a dose of rituximab?
Answer from: at Academic Institution
Few things are more complicated than lupus nephritis, and this question is not answered easily. It depends on hematuria, Cr, proteinuria, C3, C4, dsDNA, and systemic symptoms.
So, it depends on what I think is causing the incomplete clinical response. If I believe it is the class V lesion, I would ...
This is a complicated patient, but the simple answer here is—if they are not on an SGLT2i yet, then add SGLT2i (if there is no prior history of recurrent UTI).
The next question to ask is whether there is still any immunologic component to this proteinuria, which needs evaluation for hematuri...
I will agree with @Roger that this simple question is really quite complicated. I will try and be brief. This "triple-therapy" (i.e. MMF, VCS, and I presume steroids at some point in the treatment course) is quite appropriate for a mixed LN treatment. The idea of response must be considered in the c...