Different Immunosuppressive Treatment in iMN

To date, the first-line immunosuppressive immunosuppressive therapy of iMN includes corticosteroids combined with cyclophosphamide or rituximab (RTX). In recent randomized trials (MENTOR, GEMRITUX), the long-term remission rate of RTX is about 60%, which is similar to the remission rate of cyclophosphamide combined with corticosteroids in early studies. But there is only one published randomized trial (STARMEN) comparing the efficacy of the two protocols head-to-head. In STRAMEN trial, the long-term remission rate of cyclophosphamide+corticosteroids group was 83%, which was significantly higher than the that (58%) of the tacrolimus-RTX group. But in STRAMEN trial, only one single dose of RTX was given which might influence the efficacy of the tacrolimus-RTX arm. Therefore, head-to-head comparison of RTX (more than one dose) and cyclophosphamide+corticosteroid is needed. The optimal dose of RTX in the treatment of iMN is unclear. In MENTOR trial, RTX was given 1g on D1 and D15, and the rate of complete remission at 6 month was 0, so RTX was repeated at 6 month. Based on the experience of our center, most patients need at least one repeated dose of RTX at 6 month.

Based on the previous rationale, the investigators designed this study to compare the efficacy of cyclophosphamide plus corticosteroids with RTX in the treatment of iMN.

Inclusion criteria

• idiopathic membranous nephropathy
• Female, must be post-menopausal, sterile or have effective contraception
• must be off steroid or mycophenolate mofetil for >1 month and alkylating agents for or RTX> 6 months
• Angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) for ≥ 3 months with controlled blood pressure prior to beginning of immunosuppressive therapy or if patients are intolerant to ACEI/ARB.
• proteinuria ≥4g/24h and decreased ≤ 50% from baseline

Exclusion criteria

• presence of active infection or a secondary cause of membranous nephropathy
• proteinuria associated with diabetic nephropathy
• pregnancy or breast feeding
• history of resistance to rituximab or alkylating agents or corticosteroid
• Patients who previously achieved remission after treatment of rituximab or alkylating agents but relapsed off rituximab or alkylating agents after 6 months are eligible.