Rituximab, Cyclophosphamide, and Corticosteroids in Primary Membranous Nephropathy

"1. Rituximab (RTX) will be given as a single intravenous (IV) dose of 375 mg/m2. Extra RTX infusion at the same dose will be administered on weeks 12, 24, and 36 in the absence of remission and the occurrence of peripheral B-cell reconstitution. Peripheral B-cell reconstitution is defined as total CD19+ cell count \>5 cells/μL;~2. Concurrent with RTX initiation, a single IV infusion of methylprednisolone 500 mg will be administrated, followed by oral prednisolone 1 mg/kg daily but not exceeding 60 mg daily during week 1. The dosage will be rapidly decreased by 10 mg/weekly as follows: week 2, 50 mg daily; week 3, 40 mg daily; week 4, 30 mg daily; week 5, 20 mg daily; weeks 6-7, 10 mg daily; weeks 8-48, 5 mg daily; week 49, stop;~3. Four IV infusions of Cyclophosphamide will be administered at a dose of 7.5 mg/kg every other week (on weeks 1, 3, 5, and 7)."