Intervention
ADVERSE EVENTS
All patients who met the inclusion criteria were to receive a therapeutic dose of rituximab as an adjunct to their immunosuppressive treatment. One thousand milligram of rituximab was administered intravenously on day 1 and day 14, after premedication with paracetamol, dexamethasone, and antihistamines according to protocol. Maintenance therapy with low-dose steroids (5 to 10 mg prednisone) remained unchanged in the rituximab regimen, as did maintenance therapy with immunosuppressive drugs (either azathioprine and or cyclophosphamide) and, in one case, low-dose methotrexate. After rituximab therapy, immunosuppressive medication was not increased. Adverse and serious adverse events were documented.