Targeted drug therapy has been found to be effective in the treatment of patients with the common form of immune-mediated kidney disease, it has been asserted.
A study appearing in the November 2008 issue of the Clinical Journal of the American Society Nephrology, reveals that the drug rituximab causes "considerable" kidney injury healing in those afflicted with membranous nephropathy, Eurekalert reports.
The conclusion of these findings could lead to the 30 to 40 per cent of patients who were suspected of going on to develop kidney failure being healed.
While tests of other immunosuppressive drugs have been shown to repress the immune system, creating a greater risk of infection and illness, the new treatment selectively depletes B lymphocytes.
Piero Ruggenenti of the Negri Bergamo Laboratories in Bergamo, Italy, treated 50 patients with the condition and found that ten test subjects went into full remission.
"This represents the first demonstration that kidney injury in membranous nephropathy can regress after selective depletion of B cells. Thus, the present data provide a strong rationale for using rituximab to treat patients with membranous nephropathy," Mr Ruggenenti claimed.
In related news, University of California, San Diego School of Medicine researchers have suggested lowering cholesterol earlier in life may save lives.
