A 4-year observation in lupus nephritis patients treated with an intensified B-lymphocyte depletion without immunosuppressive maintenance treatment-Clinical response compared to literature and immunological re-assessment

A promising role of RTX in an intensified protocol of induction therapy can be envisaged in patients for whom avoiding immunosuppressive maintenance therapy and sparing steroids are particularly appealing. Moreover, our data confirm in one of the longest follow-up available, the opportunity to reconsider the regimens of BL depletion in the treatment of the most severe or refractory forms of SLE despite the disappointing results of RCTs.