medicina

Review
How to Choose the Right Treatment for Membranous
Nephropathy
Luigi Peritore 1, *, Vincenzo Labbozzetta 1 , Veronica Maressa 1 , Chiara Casuscelli 1 , Giovanni Conti 2 ,
Guido Gembillo 1, * and Domenico Santoro 1, *

1 Unit of Nephrology and Dialysis, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina,
98125 Messina, Italy; [email protected] (V.L.); [email protected] (V.M.);
[email protected] (C.C.)
2 Pediatric Nephrology Unit, AOU Policlinic “G Martino”, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy;
[email protected]
* Correspondence: [email protected] (L.P.); [email protected] (G.G.); [email protected] (D.S.)

Abstract: Membranous nephropathy is an autoimmune disease affecting the glomeruli and is one
of the most common causes of nephrotic syndrome. In the absence of any therapy, 35% of patients
develop end-stage renal disease. The discovery of autoantibodies such as phospholipase A2 receptor
1, antithrombospondin and neural epidermal growth factor-like 1 protein has greatly helped us to
understand the pathogenesis and enable the diagnosis of this disease and to guide its treatment.
Depending on the complications of nephrotic syndrome, patients with this disease receive supportive
treatment with diuretics, ACE inhibitors or angiotensin-receptor blockers, lipid-lowering agents and
anticoagulants. After assessing the risk of progression of end-stage renal disease, patients receive
immunosuppressive therapy with various drugs such as cyclophosphamide, steroids, calcineurin
inhibitors or rituximab. Since immunosuppressive drugs can cause life-threatening side effects and
up to 30% of patients do not respond to therapy, new therapeutic approaches with drugs such as
adrenocorticotropic hormone, belimumab, anti-plasma cell antibodies or complement-guided drugs
are currently being tested. However, special attention needs to be paid to the choice of therapy in
secondary forms or in specific clinical contexts such as membranous disease in children, pregnant
women and patients undergoing kidney transplantation.

Citation: Peritore, L.; Labbozzetta, V.;

Keywords: membranous nephropathy; immunosuppressive therapy; glomerulonephritis; nephrotic
Maressa, V.; Casuscelli, C.; Conti, G.;
syndrome; rituximab; belimumab; bortezomib; complement children; pregnancy; renal transplant
Gembillo, G.; Santoro, D. How to
Choose the Right Treatment for
Membranous Nephropathy. Medicina
2023, 59, 1997. https://doi.org/
10.3390/medicina59111997 1. Introduction

Academic Editor: Francis Dumler

Membranous nephropathy (MN) is an autoimmune disorder affecting the kidney
glomerulus and is one of the most prevalent diseases causing nephrotic syndrome (NS) in
Received: 19 September 2023 adults [1]. Its prevalence has changed over years, leading it to become the pre-eminent
Revised: 30 October 2023 pathological finding in China between 2015 and 2019 [2] and accounting for 15% of kidney
Accepted: 12 November 2023 biopsies performed in Singapore between 2008 and 2018 [3], while a decreasing trend
Published: 14 November 2023
was observed in United States of America, United Kingdom and Italy during the last
decade. Clinically, MN can range from an asymptomatic proteinuria, which occurs in
about one-third of patients, to full-blown NS, manifested by the remaining two-thirds. The
Copyright: © 2023 by the authors.
latter is a condition defined by a characteristic pentad that includes proteinuria of >3.5 g
Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. per 24 h, hypoalbuminemia, edema, hypercholesterolemia and lipiduria; less frequent
This article is an open access article manifestations are hypertension and thromboembolic events. In the absence of other
distributed under the terms and conditions, kidney impairment at the time of diagnosis is not frequent [4]. In the absence of
conditions of the Creative Commons any immunosuppressive therapies, the prognosis can be variable. Five years after diagnosis,
Attribution (CC BY) license (https:// up to 30% of patients may achieve complete remission, defined as proteinuria below 200 mg
creativecommons.org/licenses/by/ in 24 h, while up to 40% of patients may show partial remission, with proteinuria below
4.0/). 2.000 mg in 24 h [5]. After 10 years, the rate of patients developing kidney failure is

Medicina 2023, 59, 1997. https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina59111997 https://www.mdpi.com/journal/medicina

Medicina 2023, 59, 1997 2 of 26

35%; however, among patients who do not develop NS during this period, only 2% reach
end-stage renal disease (ESRD) [6].
The 2021 Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) guidelines recom-
mend the use of rituximab (RTX) or a calcineurin inhibitor (CNI) as the initial treatment
for patients at moderate risk of disease progression, while the use of first-line cyclophos-
phamide (CYC) is recommended for high-risk patients. Conversely, patients at low risk
of progression do not require immunosuppressive therapy and should be treated only
with support care [7]. However, up to 30% of patients fail to respond to standard therapy.
Some patients develop drug intolerance or serious adverse effects, especially infections.
Also, relapses are common. This has led to the search for more specific and better-tolerated
immunomodulatory drugs that improve long-term outcomes. New therapies directly
targeting B cells, plasma cells and antibody production have shown encouraging results,
especially in patients with poor tolerance or who are refractory to conventional treatments.
In this review, we will describe in detail the therapeutic options for the treatment of mem-
branous glomerulonephritis, starting from the supportive treatment approach through
to the use of diuretics and antiproteinuric drugs, treatment of the nephrotic syndrome,
traditional immunosuppressive therapy and new patterns of immunosuppression. We will
also address the treatment of secondary membranous glomerulonephritis and the treatment
in particular conditions such as pregnancy and renal transplantation.

2. Membranous Nephropathy: Pathophysiology and Autoantibodies

MN is an immunocomplex disease. Pathogenesis begins with the binding of circulating
antibodies to antigens present on podocytes. In the secondary forms, however, the initiating
trigger could be the deposition of immune complexes in the subepithelial space [8].
The first research on the pathogenesis of the disease dates back to 1980, from studies
conducted on mouse models of Heymann’s nephritis; however, the antigen responsible
for this disease, megalin, was not found to be present in humans. The first data in humans
were found in 2002 following a case of neonatal MN, in which the mother, who had been
immunized during a previous pregnancy, had transferred the antibodies directed against
neutral endopeptidase (NEP) to the newborn. In 2009, the discovery of antigens directed
against phospholipase A2 receptor 1 (PLA2R1) represented a milestone in understanding
the pathogenesis responsible for about 70% of adult MN cases. In 2014, a second antigen,
thrombospondin, was identified [9]. Recently discovered antigens include exostosin 1 and
2 (associated with ANA, dsDNA and anti Ro/LA and present in 50% of class V lupus
nephritis) [10] and NELL (neural-tissue-encoding protein with EGF-like repeats)-1 [11].
In addition, autoantibodies directed against contactin have been found in patients with
inflammatory neuropathy and MN; although its detection cannot be used to diagnose
the disease, its levels correlate with the clinical course [12]. In the pediatric population,
semaphorin 3B was also recently discovered as a new antigen; its prevalence ranges from
1 to 3% among all MN in the adult population but is more common in pediatric patients,
accounting for 15% of all MN cases; moreover, its detection is more common in the case
of a positive familiar history [13]. In membranous lupus nephritis, neural cell adhesion
molecule 1 (NCAM1) [14] and transforming growth factor beta receptor 3 (TGFBR3) [15]
were discovered as new antigens, while protocadherin FAT1 [16] was associated with
hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT)-MN. If these three last antigens are suspected
due to their association with LES or HSCT, immunohistochemistry/immunofluorescence
can be performed to obtain additional prognostic clues. Finally, protocadherin 7 (PCDH7)
(associated with prostate carcinoma but with a favorable prognosis) [17], serine protease
HTRA1 (4% of pMNs) [18] and netrin G1 (NTNG1), whose diagnostic and clinical role still
needs to be defined [19], were identified over the past two years as new target antigens
using mass spectrometry. Table 1 shows the different antigens and their features. Figure 1
shows the history of discovery of the various antigens.
Medicina 2023, 59, 1997 3 of 26

Table 1. Different antigens and their features.

Autoantibody Year Protein Association Positivity Rate IgG Subtype Circulating Ab

PLA2R 2009 Transmembrane protein pMN 70% of pMNs IgG4 Yes
THSD7A 2014 Transmembrane protein Malignancy 5% of all MNs IgG4 Yes
Exostosin 1-2 2019 Glycosyl transferase MLN 50% of cases with class V IgG1 No
NELL-1 2020 Protein kinase C-binding protein Malignancy 10% of all MNs IgG1 Yes
SEMA-3b 2020 Transmembrane protein Family history 15% of pediatric cases IgG1 Yes
Autoimmune
Contactin-1 2021 Neural cell glycoprotein 80% of autoimmune neuropathies IgG4 Yes
neuropathy
PCDH7 2021 Transmembrane protein Prostate carcinoma 5.7% of PLA2R − cases IgG1/4 Yes
HTRA1 2021 Serine protease pMN 4.2% of pMNs IgG4 Yes
NCAM 2021 Immunoglobulin proteins LES 6.6% of MLNs Unknown Yes
TGFBR3 2021 Transmembrane protein LES 6% of MLNs IgG1/2/3 No
FAT1 2022 Transmembrane protein HSCT 83% of HSCT MNs IgG4 Yes
Netrin G1 2022 Secreted glycoprotein pMN 0.003% of MNs IgG4 Yes
Ab, antibody; FAT1, protocadherin FAT1; HSCT, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation; HTRA1, HtrA serine peptidase 1; MN, membranous nephropathy; MLN, membranous lupus
nephritis; NCAM, neural cell adhesion molecule; NELL-1, neural-tissue-encoding protein with EGF-like repeats-1; pMN, primary membranous nephropathy; PLA2R, phospholipase A2
receptor 1; PCDH7, protocadherin 7; THSD7A, thrombospondin-1-domain-containing 7 A; TGFRB3, transforming growth factor beta receptor 3; SEMA-3b, semaphorin-3b.
Medicina 2023, 59, x FOR PEER REVIEW 3 of 27

using mass spectrometry. Table 1 shows the different antigens and their features. Figure
Medicina 2023, 59, 1997 4 of 26
1 shows the history of discovery of the various antigens.

Figure 1.
Figure 1. History
Historyofofdiscovery
discoveryofof
various
variousantigens. FAT1,
antigens. protocadherin
FAT1, protocadherinFAT1; HTRA1,
FAT1; serine
HTRA1, pro-
serine
tease HTRA1;
protease MN,MN,
HTRA1; membranous nephropathy;
membranous NCAM1,
nephropathy; NCAM1,neural cell adhesion
neural molecule
cell adhesion 1; NEP,
molecule neu-
1; NEP,
tral endopeptidase;
neutral endopeptidase;NELL, neural-tissue-encoding
NELL, neural-tissue-encoding protein
proteinwith
withEGF-like
EGF-likerepeats;
repeats; NTNG1, netrin
NTNG1, netrin
G1; PCDH7, protocadherin 7; PLA2R, phospholipase A2 receptor 1; pMN, primary membranous
G1; PCDH7, protocadherin 7; PLA2R, phospholipase A2 receptor 1; pMN, primary membranous
nephropathy; TGFBR3, transforming growth factor beta receptor 3; TSHD7A, thrombospondin.
nephropathy; TGFBR3, transforming growth factor beta receptor 3; TSHD7A, thrombospondin.

PLA2R is
PLA2R is aa transmembrane
transmembrane receptor receptor of of the
the mannose
mannose receptor
receptor family
family whose
whose role role in
in
human cells is still unknown. Anti-PLA2R antibodies, which
human cells is still unknown. Anti-PLA2R antibodies, which have a prevalence of 70–80% have a prevalence of 70–80%
in primary
in primary MN, MN,have havediagnostic,
diagnostic,prognostic
prognostic andandpredictive
predictive value. Positivity
value. to these
Positivity anti-
to these
bodies demonstrated a sensitivity of 78% and a specificity of
antibodies demonstrated a sensitivity of 78% and a specificity of 99% in the diagnosis 99% in the diagnosis of NM;
moreover,
of the specificity
NM; moreover, reaches reaches
the specificity 100% when 100% the search
when thefor PLA2R
search for in seruminisserum
PLA2R comple- is
mented by staining of the kidney biopsy. These discoveries
complemented by staining of the kidney biopsy. These discoveries made it possible to made it possible to diagnose
MN evenMN
diagnose in those
even situations where a where
in those situations biopsyaisbiopsycomplicated, such as such
is complicated, in patients with a
as in patients
singlea single
with kidneykidney
or with or an increased
with an increasedrisk of
riskbleeding.
of bleeding.Anti-PLA2R
Anti-PLA2R antibodies
antibodies areareable to
able
anticipate
to anticipatethethedisappearance
disappearance of proteinuria
of proteinuria in response
in response to therapy
to therapyby several months
by several and,
months
conversely,
and, in disease
conversely, relapses.
in disease Finally,
relapses. higher
Finally, antibody
higher titers titers
antibody correlate with awith
correlate worse prog-
a worse
nosis and a slower response to therapy [20]. As proved by
prognosis and a slower response to therapy [20]. As proved by Hink et al. [21] in a Hink et al. [21] in a single-arm
prospectiveprospective
single-arm cohort studycohort including
study 65including
patients with PLA2Rab-biopsy-proven
65 patients with PLA2Rab-biopsy-proven MN, regular
monitoring
MN, regularofmonitoring
such antibodiesof such allowed the design
antibodies allowed of the
a tailor-made
design of atherapy according
tailor-made therapy to
the level oftoPLA2R
according the level antibodies.
of PLA2ROral cyclophosphamide
antibodies. (1.5 mg/kg/day)
Oral cyclophosphamide plus intravenous
(1.5 mg/kg/day) plus
methylprednisolone
intravenous (1000 mg for 3(1000
methylprednisolone daysmg at days
for 31–3)
daysand at subsequent
days 1–3) and oralsubsequent
prednisoneoral (0.5
mg/kg/day)(0.5
prednisone were administered
mg/kg/day) were foradministered
8 weeks; if detection
for 8 weeks; of the antibodies
if detection subsequently
of the antibodies
became negative,
subsequently became CYC was stopped
negative, CYC was andstopped
the steroids
and thetapered
steroidsoff;tapered
alternatively, if no dis-
off; alternatively,
appearance
if of antibodies
no disappearance was observed,
of antibodies therapy therapy
was observed, was re-administered
was re-administeredfor another for 8another
weeks
8forweeks
up to for
twoup more timesmore
to two for atimes
maximum for a of 24 weeks of
maximum of CYC therapy.
24 weeks of CYCIf no therapy.
remissionIfwas no
reached after
remission was24 weeks,after
reached patients were shifted
24 weeks, patientstowere MMF + steroids
shifted to MMF therapy and CYC
+ steroids was
therapy
withdrawn.
and CYC was Notably,
withdrawn.patients treatedpatients
Notably, with thistreated
serology-guided protocol receivedprotocol
with this serology-guided a lower
cumulative dose of CYC compared with patients treated without antibody monitoring
received a lower cumulative dose of CYC compared with patients treated without antibody
(11.8 g vs. 18.9
monitoring (11.8 g)g[22].
vs. 18.9 g) [22].
Thrombospondin-1-domain-containing 77 A
Thrombospondin-1-domain-containing A (THSD7A)
(THSD7A) is is aa transmembrane
transmembrane protein protein
localized in
localized in podocytes.
podocytes. The prevalence of
The prevalence of antithrombospondin
antithrombospondin antibodies antibodies is is up
up to 5% of
to 5% of
all NM
all NM cases
cases and and up upto to10%
10%ofofcasescaseswithout
withoutPLA2R PLA2R antibodies.
antibodies. Several
Several studies
studies have re-
have
ported anan
reported association
association with
withmalignancy;
malignancy; therefore,
therefore, more
more intensive
intensive malignancy
malignancy screening
screening is
required in these patients. In addition, the presence of these antibodies in tumor cells
is required in these patients. In addition, the presence of these antibodies in tumor has
cells has
been
been described
described as as well as, more
well as, more importantly,
importantly, aa reduction
reduction in in antibody
antibody titer titer and
and proteinuria
proteinuria
following
following chemotherapy [20]. Like PLA2R antibodies, the antithrombospondin antibody
chemotherapy [20]. Like PLA2R antibodies, the antithrombospondin antibody
titer
titer can
can anticipate
anticipateboth bothclinical
clinicalremission
remission andand clinical relapse
clinical relapse by by
several
severalmonths.
months. However,
How-
according to KDIGO 2021, at the current time, there is no sufficient
ever, according to KDIGO 2021, at the current time, there is no sufficient data to perform data to perform a
diagnosis of MN only through anti-THSD7A
a diagnosis of MN only through anti-THSD7A antibody detection. antibody detection.
NELL (neural-tissue-encoding protein with EGF-like repeats)-1, a glycoprotein poorly
expressed in adult tissues but essential for ossification during child growth [23], is the
second most prevalent auto-antigen recently discovered. It accounts for a prevalence of
MN ranging from 5 to 10%, including in both primary and secondary forms of disease.
Among the latter, NELL-1 MN has been associated with malignancy, drugs, autoimmune
disease, transplant, hepatitis and sarcoidosis. Of note, one study reported an incidence of
Medicina 2023, 59, 1997 5 of 26

malignancy of up to 33% [23]; consequently, detection of NELL-1 should warrant more

exhaustive research for secondary causes [24].
However, how these autoantibodies are formed is still largely unknown. Genetics
plays a major role, and an association with a single nucleotide polymorphism at the HLA-
DQA1 locus has been described. Chinese studies that have found a different prevalence
between rural and industrialized areas also highlight that environmental pollution may
play a role. The development of such autoantigens can likely be attributed to the loss
of peripheral or central tolerance, altered expression of antigens or molecular mimicry
mechanisms [25]. Nonetheless, the binding of such antibodies to the corresponding antigens
or the deposition of the immunocomplex leads to renal damage through both complement-
dependent and -independent mechanisms [25]. Theoretically, the presence of IgG subclasses
that can activate complement more strongly, such as IgG3, could correlate with a poorer
prognosis, whereas the presence of IgG4, which is considered a weak complement activator,
could be a positive prognostic factor. However, clues supporting such hypotheses are
lacking [8].

3. An Open Question: Is Biopsy Still Necessary in Patient with PLA2R Antibodies?

According to the latest KDIGO guidelines, patients with NS who test positive for
anti-PLA2R antibodies do not require a biopsy to diagnose the disease; however, in some
specific cases, it can be considered. Data on anti-THS7DA are insufficient to extend the
same recommendation to this antibody [7].
However, a kidney biopsy may be performed for purposes other than diagnosis
alone. A Mayo Clinic retrospective study covering the period from 2015 to 2018 analyzed
97 patients with primary MN who were positive for PLA2R antibodies but still underwent
biopsy. Of these, 60 had an eGFR greater than 60 mL/min, and renal biopsy did not alter
the therapy or patient management in any way, even in the two cases diagnosed with
superimposed diabetic nephropathy or focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). On
the other hand, the discovery of additional findings, such as acute interstitial nephritis
and crescents in the group of patients with an eGFR below 60 mL/min, actually had an
impact on therapy, suggesting more aggressive therapy and additional vasculitis antibody
testing [26]. Also, the discovery of coexisting diabetic nephropathy could explain the
persistence of proteinuria during follow-up despite the disappearance of PLA2R antibodies.
Similarly, Wiech et al. analyzed 263 patients with a histological diagnosis of MN,
including 194 who were positive for anti-PLA2R antibodies. Of the latter, twelve (6%)
received an additional diagnosis such as diabetic nephropathy (n = 5), interstitial nephritis
(n = 5) and IgA nephropathy (IgAN) (n = 2). Of note, patients with an additional diagnosis
were those with the highest creatinine and lowest eGFR values. Interestingly, the proportion
of patients with an additional diagnosis other than MN was slightly higher in patients who
were negative for anti-PLA2R antibodies [27].
In any case, the KDIGO guidelines recommend that a kidney biopsy be performed in
the case of an unusual clinical course, such as a rapid decrease in the estimated glomeru-
lar filtration rate (eGFR), serological abnormalities or when patients do not respond to
immunosuppressive therapy and show a progressive decrease in eGFR or persistent NS
despite the disappearance of PLA2R antibodies. In any case, the possibility of a renal
biopsy must always be assessed on a case-by-case basis, taking into account both the costs
and the risks to the patient [7].

4. Membranous Nephropathy Supportive Therapy

Regardless of the degree of proteinuria, renal function and extent of NS, all patients
with MN should receive the best possible supportive care and be treated to prevent pos-
sible complications from the disease [7]. Such treatment may reduce both the morbidity
and mortality independently of immunosuppressive therapy. Figure 2 shows different
therapeutic options for the symptomatic treatment of nephrotic syndrome.
 Regardless of the degree of proteinuria, renal function and extent of NS, all patients
with MN should receive the best possible supportive care and be treated to prevent pos-
sible complications from the disease [7]. Such treatment may reduce both the morbidity
and
Medicina 2023, mortality independently of immunosuppressive therapy. Figure 2 shows different6 of 26
59, 1997
therapeutic options for the symptomatic treatment of nephrotic syndrome.

Figure 2. DifferentFigure 2. Different

therapeutic therapeutic
options for theoptions for the symptomatic
symptomatic treatmenttreatment
of MN. of MN. angiotensin-
ACEi, ACEi, angiotensin-
converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors; ARB, angiotensin-receptor
converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors; ARB, angiotensin-receptor blockers. blockers.

The treatment of edema includes both the use of diuretics and dietary salt restriction.
The treatment
Loop of diuretics
edema includes
administered bothtwice
the usedailyofare
diuretics andtherapy
the first-line dietary[28].
saltAsrestriction.
the prolonged
Loop diuretics administered
administration twice daily are
of furosemide cantheleadfirst-line
to adaptationtherapy [28]. Asthere
mechanisms, theisprolonged
some evidence
administration ofoffurosemide
better resultscan withlead
torsemide and bumetanide
to adaptation mechanisms,[29]. If there
thereisissuperimposed
some evidence diuretic
of better results resistance, a thiazide-like diuretic such as chlortalidone, hydrochlorothiazide or metolazone
with torsemide and bumetanide [29]. If there is superimposed diuretic
can be added to prevent sodium reabsorption in the distal areas of the nephron. While
resistance, a thiazide-like
using such adiuretic
combinationsuchofas chlortalidone,
diuretics, hydrochlorothiazide
administration or metola-
of a thiazide-like diuretic two to five
zone can be added to prevent sodium reabsorption in the distal
hours before a loop diuretic can minimize distal sodium reabsorption. The use areas of the nephron.
of amiloride
While using suchand a combination
acetazolamideof maydiuretics,
help in the administration
management ofof a thiazide-like
hypokalemia diuretic alkalosis,
and metabolic two
respectively. As gastrointestinal absorption of these
to five hours before a loop diuretic can minimize distal sodium reabsorption. The use of diuretics may be affected by bowel
wall edema, intravenous loop diuretics may be a valid alternative. Intravenous albumin
amiloride and acetazolamide may help in the management of hypokalemia and metabolic
may help to improve the delivery of the diuretic to its target site in the nephron and should
alkalosis, respectively. As gastrointestinal
be considered if serum albumin absorption
levels are below of 2.0
these
g/dL diuretics
[30]. Dailymaysodiumbe intake
affected should
by bowel wall edema, intravenous
not exceed 2 g or 88 mEq,loopwhilediuretics
water may be a isvalid
restriction alternative.
not required unlessIntravenous
hyponatremia or
albumin may help fluidtooverload
improveis the delivery
present [7]. of the diuretic to its target site in the nephron
Angiotensin-converting
and should be considered if serum albumin levels enzyme inhibitors
are below(ACEi) 2.0org/dL
angiotensin-II-receptor
[30]. Daily sodium blockers
intake should not exceed 2 g or 88 mEq, while water restriction is not required unlesseffect
(ARBs) are the first-line therapy for blood-pressure control thanks to their additional
in reducing proteinuria. Reaching the target blood pressure (i.e., systolic blood pressure
hyponatremia or<120 fluid overload is present [7].
mmHg) can both protect against cardiovascular risks and slow down the loss of the
Angiotensin-converting
GFR. On the other enzyme
hand, lossinhibitors (ACEi)can
of renal function or beangiotensin-II-receptor
prevented if proteinuria isblock-reduced to
ers (ARBs) are thelessfirst-line
than 0.5 gtherapy
per day or forslowed
blood-pressure
to less than 1.5control thanks
g per day toaddition,
[7]. In their additional
the reduction
effect in reducinginproteinuria.
proteinuria and subsequent
Reaching theincrease in serum
target blood protein (i.e.,
pressure and albumin
systoliclevels
blood can prevent
pres-
sure <120 mmHg) can both protect against cardiovascular risks and slow down the loss of by
infection, metabolic and thromboembolism risk. ACEi and ARBs can reduce proteinuria
up to 50%. These drugs should be given at the maximum tolerated dose and should only be
the GFR. On thediscontinued
other hand,if loss of renal function can be prevented if proteinuria is re-
there is an increase in creatinine of more than 30%, if there is a continuous
duced to less thanloss0.5 g perfunction,
of renal day or or slowed to lesshyperkalemia
if the induced than 1.5 g per day [7].
no longer In addition,
responds the
to any available
reduction in proteinuria and subsequent increase in serum protein and albumin
drug treatment. If this is the case, a direct renin inhibitor (DRI) or a mineralocorticoid levels can
prevent infection,receptor
metabolicantagonist (MRA) may be used to
and thromboembolism replace
risk. ACEi ACEi
and orARBs
ARBs [31]canbut be an pro-
reduce addition
teinuria by up to 50%. These drugs should be given at the maximum tolerated dose and also
to them [32]. Finally, non-dihydropyridine calcium-channel blockers (CCB) [33] may
reduce proteinuria, though only in a minor way.
should only be discontinued if there is an increase in creatinine of more than 30%, if there
Hyperlipidemia must be treated if the patient has other risk factors for cardiovascular
is a continuous loss of renal
disease, function,
including diabetes,or ifsmoking,
the induced hyperkalemia
hypertension or being no longer responds
overweight. The first step
to any available drug treatment.
in treating If this is the
lipid abnormalities is case,
diet anda direct
lifestylerenin inhibitor Statins
modification. (DRI) are or aeffective
min- in
eralocorticoid receptor antagonist (MRA) may be used to replace ACEi or ARBs [31] but
Medicina 2023, 59, 1997 7 of 26

lowering lipid levels, and there is some evidence that atorvastatin may also reduce protein-
uria [34] compared with rosuvastatin. Currently, there are insufficient data to broadly use
second-line therapies such as ezetimibe [35] or PCSK9 inhibitors [7].
Among the different forms of glomerulonephritis, MN is the one that carries the
greatest risk of thromboembolic events, especially deep-vein thrombosis and renal-vein
thrombosis [36], and the risk is even higher depending on the degree of proteinuria and if
albumin levels fall below 2.5 g/L. Full anticoagulation is mandatory if a thromboembolic
event has already occurred. On the other hand, prophylactic anticoagulation should be
carefully evaluated to account for both the risk of bleeding and thromboembolism [7].
The first-line therapy is heparin (or a derivative thereof) or warfarin; further studies are
currently needed to investigate the potential role of direct oral anticoagulants. In patients
with an albumin level below 2.5 g/L, a high venous thromboembolism risk and a high
bleeding risk that complicates the use of warfarin, aspirin can be used, as it is in patients at
risk of arterial thromboembolism [37].

5. History of Immunosuppressive Therapy in Membranous Nephropathy

The first drugs used to treat MN were exclusively glucocorticoids, although trials
conducted with prednisone showed no or only transient benefit [38,39]. In addition, a
trial involving cyclophosphamide failed to show any improvement in proteinuria or renal
function [40], and retrospective studies that included chlorambucil raised suspicions that it
might be associated with cancer [41].
In 1984, a multicenter Italian RCT assigned 67 patients with MN to symptomatic
treatment or to an alternating combination of chlorambucil and glucocorticoids for six
months. At months 1, 3 and 5, 1 g of intravenous methylprednisolone was administered
for 3 days and 0.5 mg/kg oral prednisone for a subsequent 27 days, while chlorambucil at
0.2 mg/kg/day was given at months 2, 4 and 6. The treatment group showed a stabilization
of renal function and an improvement in proteinuria, and these results were confirmed
10 years later [42]. This approach, also known as “Protocollo Ponticelli”, was shown to
achieve better results than glucocorticoid administration alone [43]. In 1998, results were
published from a trial designed to prove the non-inferiority of cyclophosphamide compared
to chlorambucil in alternating therapy; patients treated with the former had better rates of
complete and partial remission, relapsed less frequently and also seemed to tolerate the
drug. Since then, cyclophosphamide has replaced chlorambucil in the approach known as
the “Modified Ponticelli” [44].
Early indications of a potential role for cyclosporine in the treatment of MN came
from several observational studies in which patients achieved partial or complete remis-
sion [45–47]. However, this treatment option was hampered by frequent relapses upon
the reduction or withdrawal of the drug and by its potential nephrotoxicity. Subsequently,
two randomized studies showed an improvement in slowing the decline of renal function
and proteinuria compared with the placebo [48] and better remission rates when combined
with prednisone compared with placebo plus prednisone [49]. Similar to cyclosporine,
tacrolimus also showed a good response but had a high relapse rate upon discontinuation.
These data come from retrospective [50], intervention [51] and randomized studies [52].
When tacrolimus was used in combination with glucocorticoids, better results in terms
of remission rates and relapses were obtained with 24 months of therapy compared with
12 months [53]. Another proposed drug was mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), although
this had a higher risk of relapse compared with cyclophosphamide [54] and a lower rate
of complete–partial remission when combined with glucocorticoids compared with cy-
clophosphamide [55]. It should be noted that no difference in terms of proteinuria reduction
or remission achievement was found between the use of MMF and supportive therapy
alone [56].
 reduction or remission achievement was found between the use of MMF and supportive
therapy alone [56].

Medicina 2023,6.
59,Treatment
1997 of Membranous Nephropathy in KDIGO 2021 8 of 26

Since patients suffering from MN can spontaneously experience remission, it is cru-

cial to determine which patient would benefit more from immunosuppressive therapy
and who can be 6. Treatment of Membranous Nephropathy in KDIGO 2021
treated only with supportive therapy. Hence, the latest KDIGO guidelines
[7] suggest assessing the patients
Since risk of the loss of
suffering fromkidney
MN can function by dividing
spontaneously patients
experience intoitsub-
remission, is crucial
to determine which patient would benefit more from immunosuppressive therapy and
groups of low, moderate, high and very-high risk of progression toward end-stage renal
who can be treated only with supportive therapy. Hence, the latest KDIGO guidelines [7]
disease, accounting forassessing
suggest both clinical and
the risk laboratory
of the criteria.
loss of kidney Figure
function 3 summarizes
by dividing thesubgroups
patients into four
different subgroups
of low, moderate, high and very-high risk of progression toward end-stage renaldis-
with regard to their risk of progression toward end-stage renal disease,
ease. accounting for both clinical and laboratory criteria. Figure 3 summarizes the four different
subgroups with regard to their risk of progression toward end-stage renal disease.

Figure 3. Schematic representation of different subgroups with different risk levels of progression
Figure 3. Schematic representation
toward of disease.
end-stage renal different subgroups
eGFR, estimatedwith different
glomerular risk levels
filtration rate. of progression
toward end-stage renal disease. eGFR, estimated glomerular filtration rate.
Consequently, it is suggested to wait 6 months while using maximal anti-proteinuria
Consequently, it issince
therapy suggested to wait
spontaneous 6 months
remission whileOn
can occur. using maximal
the other hand, ifanti-proteinuria
high-level proteinuria,
high-tier PLA2R auto-antibodies or low-molecular-weight proteinuria are present, an earlier
therapy since spontaneous remission can occur. On the other hand, if high-level pro-
re-evaluation is mandatory, while if kidney function is rapidly decreasing and if nephrotic
teinuria, high-tier PLA2Ris auto-antibodies
syndrome or low-molecular-weight
unresponsive to symptomatic therapy, an early courseproteinuria are pre-
of immunosuppressive
sent, an earlier re-evaluation
therapy shouldisbemandatory, while
started at soon if kidneyThe
as possible. function
chance is of rapidly
spontaneousdecreasing
remission is
and if nephrotichigher
syndrome is unresponsive
in patients with proteinuria to below
symptomatic therapy, with
4 g/day compared an early
thosecourse
below 8of g/day
immunosuppressive and 12therapy
g/day (45%should
vs. be
34%started at soon
vs. 25–40, as possible.
respectively) and in The chance
patients withof lower
sponta- tiers of
neous remissionanti-PLA2R
is higher in patientscompared
antibodies with proteinuria
with higher below
ones. 4Moreover,
g/day compared
in additionwith those
to single values,
it is fundamental to evaluate the trajectory of such parameters.
below 8 g/day and 12 g/day (45% vs. 34% vs. 25–40, respectively) and in patients with
Consequently, immunosuppressive therapy should be practiced only in patients at
lower tiers of anti-PLA2R antibodies
risk of progressive kidneycompared
injury. It is with higherifones.
not required Moreover,
proteinuria innephrotic
is not in additionrange
to single values,(i.e.,
it isbelow
fundamental
3.5 g/day),toifevaluate the trajectory
serum albumin of such
is greater than 30 g/L parameters.
and if the eGFR is above 60
Consequently,
mL/min.immunosuppressive
Such patients usually therapy
have low should
risk ofbe practiced only
thromboembolic in patients
complications andathave
risk of progressive kidney injury. It is not required if proteinuria is not in nephrotic range Im-
few or any symptoms and can therefore be managed only with conservative therapy.
(i.e., below 3.5 g/day), if serum albumin
munosuppressive therapy inissuch
greater than
patients 30 g/L
would addandrisksifwithout
the eGFR any is above benefits.
potential 60
On the other hand, if there is at least one risk factor for disease progression, immuno-
mL/min. Such patients usually have low risk of thromboembolic complications and have
suppressive therapy is recommended. The choice of the specific therapy should account for
few or any symptoms and can
the patients’ therefore drug
characteristics, be managed
availability, only with conservative
preference from patients andtherapy. Im- and
physicians
munosuppressive therapy in such patients would add risks without any potential
the specific side effect of each drug. Figure 4 summarizes the choice of therapies, accounting bene-
fits. for the risk category. Different therapeutical protocols are represented in Table 2.
On the other hand, if there is at least one risk factor for disease progression, immu-
nosuppressive therapy is recommended. The choice of the specific therapy should account
for the patients’ characteristics, drug availability, preference from patients and physicians
and the specific side effect of each drug. Figure 4 summarizes the choice of therapies, ac-
counting for the risk category. Different therapeutical protocols are represented in Table
2.
Medicina 2023, 59, x FOR PEER REVIEW 9 of 2
Medicina 2023, 59, 1997 9 of 26

Figure 4. Schematic
Figure representation
4. Schematic of different
representation of different subgroups
subgroups withwith respective
respective therapy.
therapy. CYC, cyclophos
CYC, cyclophos-
phamide; CNI, calcineurin inhibitors; RTX, rituximab.
phamide; CNI, calcineurin inhibitors; RTX, rituximab.

Table
Table 2. Different
2. Different protocols described
protocols described inin
KDIGO 2021.
KDIGO 2021.

Drug Drug Protocol

Protocol
Methylprednisolone 1 g for 3 days at months 1, 3, 5
CYCLICAL Methylprednisolone 1 g for 3 days at months 1, 3, 5
CYCLICAL
CYCLOPHOSPHAMIDE
Prednisone 0.5 mg/kg/d at months 1, 3, 5
Prednisone 0.5 mg/kg/d
Cyclophosphamide 2.5 mg/kg/d at months 1,2,3,4,56
at months
CYCLOPHOSPHAMIDE
CONTINUOUS Cyclophosphamide
Methylprednisolone2.51gmg/kg/d
for 3 days at months
at months 1, 3,2,5 4, 6
CYCLOPHOSPHAMIDE Prednisone 0.5 mg/kg/d every other
Methylprednisolone day3for
1g for 6 months
days and subsequent
at months 1, 3, 5 tapering
CONTINUOUS Cyclophosphamide 1.5 mg/kg/day continuously for 6 months
Prednisone 0.5 mg/kg/d every other day for 6 months and subsequent tapering
CYCLOPHOSPHAMIDE
RITUXIMAB Rituximab 1 g twice two weeks apart or 375 mg/m2 up to 4 times at weekly intervals
Cyclophosphamide 1.5 mg/kg/day continuously for 6 months
TACROLIMUS Tacrolimus 0.05–0.1 mg/kg/d. Plasma level: 3–8 ng/mL
RITUXIMAB Rituximab 1 g twice two weeks apart or 375 mg/m2 up to 4 times at weekly intervals
CYCLOSPORINE Cyclosporine 3.5 mg/kg/g. Plasma level: 125–225 ng/mL
TACROLIMUS Tacrolimus 0.05–0.1 mg/kg/d. Plasma level: 3–8 ng/mL
CYCLOSPORINE Cyclosporine 3.5 mg/kg/g. Plasma level: 125–225 ng/mL
The use of MMF is not included since KDIGO 2012 argued against its utility. Many
randomized control trials (RCTs) and cohort studies proved that rituximab (RTX) and
The use of MMF is not
tacrolimus/cyclosporine can included
increase thesince
rate ofKDIGO 2012 argued
both complete and partialagainst its utility.
remissions, with Man
randomized control
a better safety trials
profile than(RCTs) and cohort studies
cyclophosphamide. However,proved
the use that rituximab
of calcineurin (RTX) and tac
inhibitors
(CNIs) is hampered can
rolimus/cyclosporine by their high the
increase relapse
raterate and, consequently,
of both complete and they can beremissions,
partial used in wit
monotherapy only in the case of a moderate risk of progression. Cyclophosphamide (CYC),
a better safety profile than cyclophosphamide. However, the use of calcineurin inhibitor
on the other hand, reduces the risk of kidney failure to a greater extent, but it should be
(CNIs)
used isonly
hampered by their
in high-risk high
patients duerelapse rate and,
to its toxicity consequently,
burden. The cumulative they
dosecan be used
of the latter in mon
otherapy
shouldonly in the 36
not exceed caseg inoforder
a moderate risk of progression.
to avoid malignancy Cyclophosphamide
or 10 g to preserve fertility. (CYC), o
the otherThe hand, reduces
definition the risk MN
of relapsing of kidney failuredifferent
varies among to a greater extent,
authors. Whilebut
some it should
authors be used
onlydefine relapse aspatients
in high-risk an increase duein proteinuria
to its toxicityabove 3.5 g/d, The
burden. the working
cumulativegroup dose
of KDIGOof the latte
2021 defined a relapse as an increase in proteinuria with a
should not exceed 36 g in order to avoid malignancy or 10 g to preserve fertility.coexistent decrease in serum
albumin. If a patient experiences a relapse after a first course of rituximab, a second course
The definition of relapsing MN varies among different authors. While some author
of the drug can be administered. On the other hand, if a relapse occurs after a course
define relapse
of CNI as anrituximab
+ steroid, increasecan in proteinuria
be added alone above
or in 3.5 g/d, the working
combination with CNI. group
Finally,ofif KDIGO
2021thedefined a therapy
first-line relapseconsisted
as an increase in proteinuria
of cyclophosphamide with a coexistent
+ glucocorticoids, decrease
a second coursein serum
of the same schedule can be repeated, accounting for the maximum
albumin. If a patient experiences a relapse after a first course of rituximab, a second dose tolerated, or, cours
alternatively,
of the drug can CNI + rituximab or rituximab
be administered. On the otheralone may
hand,represent a second-line
if a relapse occurstherapy.
after a course o
There is no consensus, on the other hand, about the proper definition of resistant
CNI + steroid, rituximab can be added alone or in combination with CNI. Finally, if th
disease. If anti-PLA2R antibodies are detectable before first-line therapy, the disease can be
first-line
defined therapy consisted
as resistant of cyclophosphamide
if the antibody + glucocorticoids,
titer is still high after a second
one course of therapy. course of th
Conversely,
sameproteinuria
scheduleevaluation
can be repeated,
cannot be usedaccounting forpersist
since it can the maximum
for up to 24dose
months tolerated, or, alterna
after therapy.
tively, CNI + rituximab
If patients or rituximabpersistence
are not PLA2R-positive, alone may of represent
the nephrotic a second-line
syndrome can therapy.
define a
There is no consensus, on the other hand, about the proper definition of resistan
disease. If anti-PLA2R antibodies are detectable before first-line therapy, the disease ca
be defined as resistant if the antibody titer is still high after one course of therapy. Con
versely, proteinuria evaluation cannot be used since it can persist for up to 24 months afte
Medicina 2023, 59, 1997 10 of 26

resistant disease. In evaluating resistant disease, the first step consists in checking the
adherence to therapy by measuring the levels of B cells, anti-rituximab antibodies, CNI and
IgG or the development of leukocytopenia in patients using cyclophosphamide.
If the first line-line therapy consists of RTX, CNI can be added to the therapy if the
eGFR is stable. If the eGFR is decreasing or if even CNI + RTX fails to achieve a response,
a trial of cyclophosphamide + glucocorticoids can be made. On the other hand, if CNI
represents the first attempt, RTX can be administered if the kidney function is stable;
however, if it is unstable or if RTX did not achieve a response, an alkylating agent must be
tried. If the latter represents the first-line therapy, RTX can be added before trying another
course of alkylating agents. If patients fail to respond to either RTX or CYC, their enrolment
in trials with experimental drugs is suggested (see “Novel therapeutic approaches for
Membranous Nephropathy” below).
In our center, intravenous methylprednisolone is usually administered in an inpatient
setting, while RTX can be administered to both outpatients and inpatients.

7. Rituximab
The last drug included in KDIGO for the treatment of MN was RTX, a chimeric IgG1
monoclonal antibody that exerts its B-cell depleting effect through its binding to CD20.
To date, numerous studies have been conducted to evaluate the efficacy of this treatment
in monotherapy and in combination with the drugs already in use. The GEMRITUX
randomized trial, published in 2017, evaluated 6 months of non-immunosuppressive drug
therapy (NIAT) in combination with 375 mg/m2 RTX administered intravenously on
days 1 and 8 (n = 37) or non-immunosuppressive therapy alone (n = 38). After 6 months,
13 patients in the NIAT-RTX group and 8 patients in the NIAT group achieved remission.
At the prolonged follow-up, with a median follow-up of 17 months, the difference was
significant, with remission occurring in 64.9% of patients in the NIAT-RTX group and
only 34.2% in the NIAT group (p < 0.01). In addition, PLA2R Ab-depletion rates in the
NIAT-RTX and NIAT groups at 3 months were 56.0% and 4.3%, respectively (p < 0.001) [57].
The different combination therapies were then compared to determine which patient
profile was best suited to treatment with a specific therapeutic protocol. STARMEN, a
study performed in Spain and published in 2020, compared six months of cyclic treatment
with corticosteroids and cyclophosphamide with sequential treatment using tacrolimus
(full dose for six months and tapering during the following three months) and RTX (1 g
monthly for six months). A total of 86 patients with primary MN were randomized
into two subgroups of 43 patients. Out of these, 83.7% of patients (n = 36) achieved
complete or partial remission in the corticosteroid–cyclophosphamide subgroup and 58.1%
(n = 25 patients) in the tacrolimus-RTX subgroup, with complete remission after two years
in 60% of patients (n = 26 patients) in the corticosteroid–cyclophosphamide subgroup and
in 26% (n = 11 patients) of the tacrolimus-RTX subgroup. The rate of patients achieving an
immunological response, i.e., a disappearance of anti-PLA2R antibodies, was significantly
higher in the corticosteroid–cyclophosphamide group than in patients receiving tacrolimus
and rituximab, both at three months (77% vs. 45%) and six months (92% vs. 70%). Relapsing
disease was observed in three patients in the tacrolimus-RTX subgroup and only in one
patient in the corticosteroid–cyclophosphamide subgroup. No difference was found in the
rate of serious adverse events between the two subgroups [58]. In 2019, the MENTOR study
compared a treatment protocol with RTX and one with cyclosporine in terms of inducing
and maintaining a complete or partial remission of proteinuria. The efficacy profile in
achieving a complete remission at 12 months proved to be comparable (60% vs. 52%),
with RTX having a greater effect in achieving a remission at 24 months (60% vs. 20%) [59].
The Italian study RI-CYCLO, published in 2021, conducted in 74 adults with MN and
proteinuria >3.5 g/day, compared a treatment with RTX (1 g) on days 1 and 15 and one
with corticosteroids alternating with cyclophosphamide on a monthly basis for 6 months.
Patients were randomized into two groups consisting of 37 patients each. After 12 months,
16% of the patients treated with RTX and 32% of the patients treated with the cyclic regimen
Medicina 2023, 59, 1997 11 of 26

had achieved complete remission. A total of 62% of patients (23 of 37 patients) receiving
RTX and 73% (27 of 37) of those taking the cyclic regimen underwent complete or partial
remission. During the 24-month follow-up period, the odds of complete remission and
complete or partial remission with RTX were 0.42 (95% CI, 0.26 to 0.62) and 0.83 (95% CI,
0.65 to 0.95), respectively, and 0.43 (95% CI, 0.28 to 0.61) and 0.82 (95% CI, 0.68 to 0.93),
respectively, with the cyclic regime. No difference was found in the rate of adverse events
between the two subgroups (19% vs. 14%) [60]. The 2021 KDIGO guidelines list several
strategies and recommend a fixed dose of 2 g/1 g within 2 weeks, as used in rheumatoid
arthritis, or 375 mg/m2 administered one to four times weekly as an alternative first-line
option for the initial treatment of patients carrying a moderate or high risk of progressive
disease. A study including 12 patients with idiopathic MN and NS receiving titrated B-cell
treatment was followed with the aim of determining the ideal dosage compared to a group
of 24 patients receiving the standard protocol of four weekly doses of 375 mg/m2 . The
results showed that only one patient required a second dose to achieve complete depletion
of CD20 cells. After 12 months, the progression of NS manifestations and the proportion
of patients achieving disease remission (25%) were identical in both groups. All patients
achieved sustained CD20 cell depletion [61]. Another study compared two treatment
protocols: NICE, in which patients received two infusions of 1 g RTX every 2 weeks, and
the GEMRITUX protocol, with the infusion of two doses of 375 mg one week apart. After
6 months, remissions occurred in 18 (64%) versus 8 (30%) of the NICE and GEMRITUX
cohorts. The median time needed to achieve remission was 3 months for the two groups
receiving the different protocols. Participants in the NICE cohort had higher circulating RTX
levels, lower CD19 counts and lower anti-PLA2R1 antibodies at month 6, demonstrating a
greater drug efficacy at higher doses [62]. To confirm these data, Moroni et al. compared
two different doses of RTX. One group of 18 patients received a single dose of 375 mg/m2
while the second group of 16 patients received two doses. RTX represented the first-line
therapy for 56% (n = 19) and the second-line therapy for 44% (n = 15) patients. Follow
up was conducted for 12 months; at the end, 14.7% (n = 5) achieved a complete response,
29.4% (n = 10) a partial response and 55.8% (n = 19) no response. The response occurred
approximately 6 months after dosing. The outcome was similar for one and two doses
of RTX, with 55.5 and 56% of non-responders respectively [63]. In terms of tolerability
and safety, the first studies were conducted on large cohorts of patients with rheumatoid
arthritis (RA). In the studies by van Vollenhoven et al., RTX was shown to be generally
well tolerated despite the administration of multiple cycles of therapy over an extended
period of time. In one study, 3194 patients who received up to 17 cycles of RTX over
9.5 years were compared with a group of 818 patients who received placebo + methotrexate.
Rates of serious adverse events and infections generally remained stable over time and
across cycles, with a greater tendency for patients to develop low immunoglobulin levels,
while serious opportunistic infections were rare. A total of 717 of the patients treated
with RTX developed low immunoglobulin IgM levels, and 3.5% (n = 112) developed low
IgG levels for ≥4 months after more than one cycle [64]. A previous study by Ronal van
Vollenhoven et al. demonstrated that most adverse events occur during drug infusion. Out
of a total of 2578 RA patients who received at least one course of RTX, 25% developed
a reaction during drug administration, but less than 1% of the reactions were classified
as serious; rates of adverse events, serious infection and risk of malignancy over time
remained stable after each cycle [65]. More recently, in the MENTOR study, serious adverse
events were reported in 17% (11 patients of the RTX group and in 31% (n = 20) of the
CNI group (p = 0.06) [59]). Although steroid and cyclophosphamide cyclic therapy is
recommended in guidelines for patients carrying a high risk of progressive disease, RTX
may be a safer alternative. This was demonstrated in a retrospective observational cohort
study comparing the two different therapies and evaluating several endpoints, including
all possible adverse events, partial and complete remission of NS and a combination of
doubling of serum creatinine, ESRD or death. At a median follow-up of 40 months, there
were significantly fewer adverse events in the RTX than in the steroid–cyclophosphamide
Medicina 2023, 59, 1997 12 of 26

group (63 vs. 173; p < 0.001), both serious (11 vs. 46; p < 0.001) and non-serious (52 vs.
127; p < 0.001). The cumulative incidence of a first event (35.5% vs. 69.0%; p < 0.001) and
serious (16.4% vs. 30.2%; p = 0.002) or non-serious (23.6% vs. 60.8%; p < 0.001) event was
significantly lower with RTX [66]. Nevertheless, some issues remain unsolved, especially
those regarding the better dosing regimen, long-term safety and efficacy or which strategies
to adopt for patients who do not respond to RTX. Monitoring PLA2R antibodies may
allow for more personalized treatments and low-dose protocols, with RTX administration
given based on both B-cell count and PLA2R Ab levels in order to reduce side effects
and costs. Currently, the most reasonable choice is for RTX treatment to be individually
tailored to each patient’s disease course. Unfortunately, up to 40% of patients do not
respond to rituximab; in addition, hypersensitivity reactions or serum-sick syndrome may
occur. Consequently, new anti-CD20 drugs have been developed, namely ofatumumab
(OFA) and obinutuzumab (OBI). The first is a humanized monoclonal antibody that binds
to CD20 at a different site than that used by rituximab and, moreover, also manages to
bind C1q with consequent complement-mediated cytotoxicity. OBI, on the other hand,
is another monoclonal antibody which, like OFA, recognizes different epitopes than RTX
but which, in addition to complement-mediated mechanisms, uses lysosome-dependent,
antibody-mediated and phagocytosis-dependent cytotoxicity mechanisms. Finally, OBI is
also able to cause a profound depletion of B cells in the spleen and lymph nodes. While the
current data on OFA use come from case reports, two OFA trials evaluating its utilization
in MN are ongoing [67].
Table 3 describes the most important studies evaluating RTX use in MN.
Medicina 2023, 59, 1997 13 of 26

Table 3. Most important studies involving the use of RTX in MN.

GEMRITUX (2017) MENTOR (2019) STARMEN (2020) RICYCLO (2021)

Patients (n) 75 130 86 74
RTX 1g on days 1–15 Oral tacrolimus (blood levels
+ 5–7 ng/mL) for 6 months
RTX 375 mg/m2 on days 1–8 RTX 1g on days 1–15
RTX second course at 6 months if no +
RTX group + +
complete remission RTX 1 g at day 180 with tacrolimus
Supportive therapy Supportive therapy
+ tapering and complete withdrawal
Supportive therapy at month 9
Methylprednisolone 1 g × 3 Methylprednisolone 1 g × 3
Cyclosporine (blood target levels (months 1, 3, 5) and oral prednisone (months 1–3–5) and oral prednisone
125 to 175 ng/mL) and tapering (0.5 mg/kg/day) for the following (0.5 mg/kg/day) for the following
Control group Supportive therapy after 6 months if remission achieved 27 days 27 days
+ + +
Supportive therapy Oral cyclophosphamide Oral cyclophosphamide
(1–2 mg/kg/days) at months 2, 4, 6 (2 mg/kg/days) at months 2, 4, 6
Complete or partial remission of Complete or partial remission of Complete or partial remission of Complete or partial remission of
Primary endpoint
proteinuria after 6 months proteinuria after 24 months proteinuria after 24 months proteinuria after 12 months
RTX n = 13 (35.1%) vs. control group RTX n = 39 (60%) vs. control group
RTX group n = 25 (58.1%) vs. control RTX group n = 23 (62%) vs. control
Primary outcome n = 8 (21.1%) n = 13 (20%)
group n = 36 (83.7%) group n = 27 (73%)
p = 0.21 p < 0.001
Significant reduction in both groups.
RTX group = 50% of deletion after Higher immunological response at Reduction in both groups during
Better reduction in RTX group
PLA2R antibodies trend 6‘months vs. control group = 12% months 3 and 6 in control group follow up but faster decrease in
compared with control group
p = 0.004 compared with RTX group (month 3: RTX group
77% vs. 45; month 6: 92% vs. 70%)
Serious events in 11 patients in RTX More adverse events in control
Serious events in 21% of group (17%) vs. 20 in control group group (19%) than in RTX group Serious adverse events in 19% in
Adverse events
both groups (31%) (14%) RTX group vs. 14% in control group
p = 0.04 p = 0.04
Medicina 2023, 59, 1997 14 of 26

8. Novel Therapeutic Approaches for Membranous Nephropathy

Immunosuppressive therapy can be associated with serious and potentially fatal side
effects. In addition, 20–30% of patients do not achieve a complete or even a partial response
to therapy. If response has not been achieved after two or more lines of therapy, alternative
therapies may be considered [68]. Findings from the results of studies on the use of
adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) have been controversial. In 2005, Berg and Arnadottir
published results on a series of 15 patients with MN and NS who achieved complete
remission, 14 of whom maintained it during a follow-up period of 14–30 months [69].
In 2006, Ponticelli et al. found no significant difference between two groups of patients
with NS and MN treated with the Ponticelli regimen and ACTH, respectively [70]. On
the other hand, a prospective, open-label cohort study published by Van de Logt in 2015
showed lower efficacy than cyclophosphamide and the occurrence of several adverse
events [71]. In 2019, Kaundal et al. published a study on 11 patients who had previously
failed to respond to immunosuppressive therapy and/or RTX. Of the 11 patients, four
achieved complete remission and two achieved partial remission, with maintenance of
remission at 16 months. Among the adverse events leading to discontinuation of therapy,
two patients were reported with fluid accumulation and dyspnea [72]. In each case, the side
effects of ACTH were thought to be the same as those of steroids, only to a lesser extent.
However, as the evidence for ACTH use is weak, more data are needed. In addition, the
mechanism of action is still unclear, although it probably involves melanocortin receptor-1
(MCR-1), which colocalizes with synaptopodin in podocytes. Belimumab, a monoclonal
antibody that acts by inhibiting B-cell activating factor (BAFF), is currently used to treat
lupus nephritis. In 2020, Barret et al. published an open-label, prospective, single-arm
study of 14 patients, 11 of whom discontinued the study, and among which 8 patients
achieved partial remission and 1 patient achieved complete remission [73]. Because RTX
increases BAFF levels, combination therapy studies have been planned; specifically, a
double-blind RCT will compare the efficacy of RTX vs. RTX + belimumab in 124 NM
patients [68]. CD19-/CD20-/CD38+/CD138+ plasma cells, which are normally found in
the bone marrow and kidney during inflammation, are among the major players in patients
who do not respond to CD19- and CD20-depleting agents such as RTX. Bortezomib is
able to cause the depletion of plasma cells and is currently used in multiple myeloma
therapy. To date, data on the use of bortezomib in MN have come only from case reports,
but the results are promising [74–76]. Other CD38-targeted agents that may have a role
in the treatment of MN include daratumumab and felzartamab. The former has not yet
been studied in this context, and the only data are from a single case report [77], while
the latter is expected to show results from trials in 2024 [68]. Both lectin and alternative
signaling pathways play a role in the pathogenesis of MN. Therefore, complement-targeted
therapy will be part of the therapeutic options in the future. Currently, there is only one
small study on complement inhibition in MN, and that is with eculizumab, a C5-cleavage
inhibitor. However, this study was never published due to negative results, although, as
many have pointed out, the dose and duration of this therapy were lower than in protocols
used for other diseases [78]. Other molecules that may achieve important results in the
future include the factor-B inhibitor iptacopan and pegcetacoplan, targeting C3 and C3b,
respectively, and the MASP inhibitor narsoplimab [78]. Since complement inhibition is
associated with severe infections by encapsulated organisms, vaccination and prophylaxis
against meningococci and pneumococci are essential in all cases. Finally, data on the use of
plasmapheresis and immunoadsorption come from case series or case reports in patients
with severe disease [79,80].

9. Treatment of Secondary Membranous Nephropathy

Secondary MN accounts for almost 25% of MN. It includes forms of disease caused by
infections, malignancies, autoimmune diseases and drugs [81]. Recognition of secondary
forms is critical because treatment of these forms depends on treatment of the underlying
disease and, furthermore, immunosuppressive therapy can be dangerous in malignant
Medicina 2023, 59, 1997 15 of 26

or infectious secondary forms. PLA2R antibodies may suggest, but not exclude, primary
MN, while THSD7A or NELL1 [23] may ensure malignancy-associated forms [82]; the
distribution of IgG subclasses among glomerular deposits may also be helpful, as IgG4 are
highly suggestive of primary forms, and IgG1 and IgG2 are found in malignancy-associated
disease [83]. The joint use of PLA2R and IgG4 may greatly enhance the ability to distin-
guish primary from secondary forms [84]. Malignancies most commonly responsible for
secondary MN are those of the lung, gastrointestinal tract and prostate and, less frequently,
the skin, breast and bladder [85] Resection or treatment of the tumor may lead to the disap-
pearance of NS [86]. In the past, several drugs have been reported to cause MN, including
antirheumatic drugs, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), penicillamine and
captopril. Recently, case reports have described MN caused by gefitinib, a tyrosine kinase
inhibitor [87], but not by erlotinib, a drug in the same class. Usually, discontinuation of
such therapies results in significant improvement in proteinuria and NS, usually six months
or one year thereafter [87]. Recently, several case reports of immune-checkpoint inhibitors
have been described [88]. In particular, with regard to RTX administration, the drug could
be reinstated after NS remission. In a rare case, the use of siddha drugs have been associ-
ated with the occurrence of MN due to the presence of mercury. In such cases, notably in
a NELL1 positive patient, significant improvement was achieved by discontinuing such
medication [89]. Another case report described the onset of MN in a patient due to sar-
gramostim, a recombinant granulocyte–macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF),
who recovered completely after discontinuation [90]. Secondary MN may also occur in
association with autoimmune liver diseases such as primary sclerosing cholangitis, primary
biliary cirrhosis or autoimmune hepatitis. Treatment of these forms is controversial, as liver
transplantation has led to significant improvement in proteinuria in some patients, while
specific therapy for MN has been required in others, as no improvement had occurred [91].
In the context of RA, secondary MN may be due either to the nephrotoxic effects of disease-
modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), which is the most common or, in the absence
of such treatments, it may be related to the disease activity itself. In the first case, albeit
with variable timing, MN may improve with the discontinuation of the drugs involved;
in the second, much rarer case, a specific therapy for rheumatologic disease involving a
combination of steroids, methotrexate and tacrolimus has been shown to be effective in
one case report [92]. In cases secondary to ankylosing spondylitis, the use of adalimumab
(40 mg/2 weeks), a tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha antagonist, significantly improved
proteinuria [93]. Treatment of Grave’s-disease-associated MN has been successful with
thiamazole, while others have reported improvement after radioiodine thyroid ablation
but not after drug therapy [94–96]. However, in patients with myasthenia gravis and
MN, treatment options include steroids, ACTH (which has been shown to achieve partial
remission), RTX and, finally, thymectomy [97]. If celiac disease is the underlying cause, a
trial of a gluten-free diet plus supportive therapy may lead to proteinuria remission, as
described by Pestana et al. [98]. Several cases of MN secondary to tuberculosis agents,
such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis and the much rarer Mycobacterium shimoidei, have been
described without overt renal tuberculosis. Also, in this case, the initiation of pathogen-
specific antibiotic therapy against these mycobacteria, namely clarithromycin, rifampicin
and ethambutol, can significantly improve proteinuria and the renal status [99]. In hepatitis-
related MN, immunosuppressive therapy may increase viral replication. Specific treatment
of the infection, including the use of entecavir, plus plasmapheresis and steroids, has been
shown to improve both th viral load and NS [100]. Still, a rare cause of secondary MN
may be syphilis. It is important to detect luetic MN, as the use of steroid therapy may
worsen the symptoms and lead to an advancement in the stage of the underlying disease,
while the use of specific therapy against the pathogen, Treponema pallidum, may allow for
the rapid improvement of the NS and avoid the use of steroid therapy. Intramuscular
benzathine penicillin once a week for three weeks has been shown to be effective [101,102].
In addition, MN may occur during chronic graft-versus-host disease (CGVHD) in patients
who have undergone bone marrow transplantation. In such cases, RTX has been used,
Medicina 2023, 59, 1997 16 of 26

which is both safe and effective [103]. If paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria is super-
imposed, complement-directed therapy may be helpful [104]. In addition, secondary MN
of Castleman’s disease has been successfully treated with tocilizumab from both a renal
and hematological perspective [105,106]. Another cause of MN is represented by chronic
lymphocytic leukemia; such cases have been treated with RTX over the years and, more
recently, venetoclax has been successfully used in a refractory patient [107]. Membranous
lupus nephritis accounts for almost 15% of lupus nephritis (LN). It is associated with a low
risk of progression to ESRD but, conversely, carries an increased risk of thromboembolic
complications and is often complicated by nephrotic-range proteinuria and its clinical mani-
festations. Mycophenolate mofetil is recommended as an initial treatment, but other studies
have demonstrated the efficacy of tacrolimus. Alternative therapies include cyclosporine
and cyclophosphamide, while corticosteroids alone do not induce remission [108]. How-
ever, when proliferative classes are superimposed on lupus nephritis, the treatment may
change significantly [82]. Finally, MN is the most prevalent glomerulonephritis associated
with sarcoidosis. Although the mechanism by which renal injury develops in patients with
sarcoidosis is not known, there is ample evidence that these patients respond to steroids
alone, unlike patients with primary MN [109].

10. Membranous Nephropathy in Children

MN is a rare disease in children. It accounts for less than 2% of biopsies in American
children [110], although its prevalence is increasing year by year and has reached 6%
in Chinese children [111]. Several studies have shown that its prevalence is higher in
the adolescent subgroup than in children (18.5% in adolescents compared with 3% in
children in a retrospective analysis in Pakistan [112] and 9% compared with 3% in a cross-
sectional study of biopsies in China [111]). However, it is not possible to determine the
exact prevalence of the disease as MN is a diagnosis of exclusion, and patients with NS
are only biopsied only if they do not respond to steroids, while patients with hematuria,
a more common feature of the disease than in adults, are not commonly biopsied [113].
Most of the available data are either monocentric or have been extrapolated from national
registries. In the pediatric population, secondary MN is more common than primary MN, in
which systemic causes such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) or hepatitis play a role.
Compared with adult patients, hematuria is more common in children, while hypertension,
proteinuria or a decrease in kidney function are less frequent. Stage I is also more common
in children by electronic microscopy. In addition, PLA2R antibodies were more common in
adults than in children, and when the pediatric population was divided into subgroups,
adolescent patients were more frequently affected than younger ones [114]. A retrospective
analysis of 217 cases of primary MN, spanning a 10-year period from 2008 to 2017, found
that the most common manifestation was NS (59.9%) and that the subsequent edema had a
more insidious onset than minimal-change disease or focal segmental glomerulosclerosis.
Because of the low prevalence of the disease, there is a little prognostic evidence; however,
in this study, the 5-year and 10-year survival was 95.3% and 67.8%, respectively, with
hypertension and a proteinuria greater than 50 mg/kg/day as risk factors for a worse renal
outcome [115]. In children, searching for specific autoantibodies can also improve both
diagnosis and treatment. Unlike in the adult population, there is limited data on the role of
PLA2R, while THSD7A antibodies have not been studied in patients under 18 years of age.
Zhang et al. found a prevalence of 42.1% PLA2R-positive antibodies in 38 patients with
a diagnosis of primary MN in a Chinese retrospective study [114], while another single-
center report in South Asia reported a rate of 70% [116]. In addition, other responsible
antigens have been described, such as the neutral endopeptidase protein, involved in
the fetomaternal alloimmune form, and the cationic form of bovine serum albumin [117].
Recently, the Sema3b antigen was discovered, which seems to be most correlated with
the pediatric population and is responsible for 15% of pediatric cases of MN in children,
especially in patients younger than two years. However, there is little therapeutic and
prognostic evidence for Sema3b-positive patients due to a lack of cohort studies. Some
Medicina 2023, 59, 1997 17 of 26

patients recovered spontaneously, while others required immunosuppressive therapy [13].

Dettmar et al. studied 12 children with MN and concluded that pediatric patients in
whom PLA2R antibodies have disappeared can only be safely treated with supportive
therapy, just like the adult population [117] Interestingly, two cases of double positivity for
both PLA2R and Sema3b have also been reported, showing that positivity for individual
antigens is not mutually exclusive [118]. While secondary forms of MN require specific
treatment for the underlying disease, there is currently no evidence-based standard therapy
for primary membranous nephropathy in children. A renal biopsy is not usually performed
in patients with steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome. About 30% of patients can achieve
remission without drug therapy, while the rest require specific treatment. Conservative
treatment alone can be used if proteinuria is not in the nephrotic range; otherwise, the
risk of progression to end-stage renal disease warrants more targeted treatment [119].
As Valentini described in a retrospective study, 50% of patients with nephrotic pMN
syndrome do not respond to steroid therapy, while the remainder experience complete
(10%) or partial (40%) remission [120]. Data on the treatment of immunosuppression in
pediatric patients come from case reports or case series. The lack of RCTs on the pediatric
population makes it difficult to choose one immunosuppressant over another. Valentini’s
study found a 75% response rate to a 3-month course of cyclophosphamide (2 mg/kg/day)
with steroids given daily [120]. Lee et al. used cyclosporin with a response rate of 100%
after 6 months but with relapse after discontinuation of the drug [121], while Chen found
no difference between cyclosporin and tacrolimus [122]. Bhimma et al. achieved partial
remission with MMF (1200 mg/m2 ) [123]. A report from a single center in South Asia
investigated the response to various immunosuppressive therapies in 48 patients with
biopsy-proven pMN, such as cyclical CYC/GC, CNI/GC, rituximab, MMF, azathioprine
and prednisone alone, with no significant difference in outcomes [116]. In this study, all
cases with resistant disease responded to rituximab administration with either complete
or partial remission, and the response rate in resistant patients was even better than in
patients treated with first-line therapy. Currently, there are no recommendations on the
use of rituximab as a first-line agent, but the ever-growing number of case reports and
case series reporting excellent results make it a promising drug for the of the disease
in pediatric patients also. In addition, the ideal dosage for these patients has not yet
been established; the use of 1 g every 2 weeks as well as 375 mg/m2 once a week for
4 weeks have been reported. In addition, in the case of rituximab-resistant disease or in
patients suffering from rituximab serum sickness [124], new anti-C20 antibodies such as
ofatumumab, obinutuzumab and ocrelizumab could be considered [125]. Finally, there are
encouraging data from preliminary studies on the use of probiotics. Yamaguchi et al. found
that daily administration of Clostridium butyricum preparations reduced the recurrence of
nephrotic syndrome compared with patients treated with placebo and that, in the same
group, fewer patients received rituximab for recurrences [126].

11. Membranous Nephropathy in Pregnancy

During pregnancy, idiopathic MN is a rare cause of NS; there are few case reports
in the literature [127]. In women of child-bearing age, MN is often secondary to other
conditions, such as systemic lupus erythematosus, hepatitis B or hepatitis C viral infections
and syphilis, and in association with drug exposure (especially biologic agents and NSAIDs)
or, less commonly, with neoplastic disease [128]. The absence of risk factors, such as NS,
reduces the impact of this pathology on the occurrence of maternofetal complications [129].
The cohort studied by Peckham in 1987 had the highest number of serious outcomes:
fetal loss in 24% of cases, preterm birth in 43%, CKD progression in 9%, the onset of
hypertension in 46% of patients and significant proteinuria in 54.5% [130]. Liu et al., in their
most recent retrospective study performed on 27 pregnancies from 2008 to 2018, highlighted
the occurrence of maternal–fetal adverse events in 10 of these cases, including fetal loss
(11%), preterm delivery (26%) and severe pre-eclampsia (15%). Severe hypoalbuminemia,
severe proteinuria (especially before 20 weeks of gestation), positive anti-PLA2R and
Medicina 2023, 59, 1997 18 of 26

no remission were risk factors for worse outcomes [131]. Treatment of this condition
during pregnancy is challenging. Due to their teratogenic effects, ACE inhibitors, lipid-
lowering agents, warfarin, mycophenolic acid and cyclophosphamide are contraindicated.
Alpha-2 adrenergic receptor blockers, such as methyldopa, and calcium blockers, like long-
acting nifedipine or labetalol, are the first-line drugs in maintaining blood pressure [132].
Because of the likely occurrence of adverse events in newborns, such as hypotension and,
often, transient bradycardia and hypoglycemia, other beta-blockers are used in the second
line of treatment. Diuretics are not usually used in pregnancy; however, these may be
administered in NS refractory to immunosuppressive drugs but under medical supervision
to avoid pre-renal acute kidney injury (AKI) forms. Corticosteroids, such as prednisone
and methylprednisolone, and calcineurin inhibitors, such as tacrolimus and cyclosporine,
are the first-line treatment option [133]. In the last trimester of pregnancy, RTX should be
avoided for the possible B-cell depletion in the newborn [134].

12. Membranous Nephropathy in Kidney Transplant Recipients

In kidney transplant recipients MN can occur either as a recurrent disease, when the
diagnosis of MN has already been made in native kidneys, or as de novo MN (DNMN),
when the cause of kidney failure is a different disease. It is not always possible to distinguish
between these two identities because the cause of the primary failure may be unknown, in
which case other authors use the term transplant MN [135]. Beyond this division, however,
MN increases the risk of graft failure [136]. Table 4 shows the difference between de novo
membranous nephropathy and recurrent membranous nephropathy.

Table 4. Main differences between de novo membranous nephropathy and recurrent membranous
nephropathy.

DE NOVO MEMBRANOUS NEPHROPATHY RECURRENT MEMBRANOUS NEPHROPATHY

Different cause of native kidney failure MN diagnosis already made in native kidneys
Prevalence: 2% in adult; 9% in pediatric 40% of the cases
Prevalently IgG1 autoantibodies Prevalently IgG4 autoantibodies
Lower risk of antibody-mediated rejection compared with de
Higher risk of antibody-mediated rejection
novo membranous nephropathy
Increase immunosuppressive therapy or Immunosuppressive therapy may cause the disappearance
consider plasmapheresis of antibodies
Rituximab or cyclophosphamide for worsening disease Rituximab for worsening disease
Worse graft survival Better graft survival
MN, membranous nephropathy; DNMN, de novo membranous nephropathy.

Determining the exact incidence of MN is difficult because indications for performing

biopsies differ between centers; in addition, not all centers perform electron microscopy and
immunofluorescence routinely. However, recurrent membranous nephropathy (RMN) can
occur in up to 40% of cases, while DNMN is reported in up to 2% in the adult population and
up to 9% in the pediatric population [137]. Of note, the latter is more frequent in patients
with HCV infection [138], CMV infection [139] Alport syndrome or kidney obstruction or
in association with IgA nephropathy [140]. Moreover, the risk of MN recurrence is even
higher in the case of a second transplant [141] and correlates with the anti-PLA2R antibodies
titer [142]. On the other hand, association between the PLA2R antibodies titer prior to
transplant and the recurrence of membranous nephropathy was statistically significant in
a cohort of 63 biopsy-proven RMNs [142]. Berchtold et al. studied 105 kidney transplant
recipients with MN and matched donors and found an association with single-nucleotide
polymorphisms in HLA-DRB1 and HLA-DQA1 and three SNPs in PLA2R1 [143]. These
results suggest that further evaluation in living-related-donor transplants may be needed.
In addition, DNM is associated with IgG1 autoantibodies, unlike MN in native kidneys
Medicina 2023, 59, 1997 19 of 26

and in RMN where the most prevalent subclass is IgG4 [144]. Compared with patients with
RMN, patients with DMN have a higher risk of antibody-mediated rejection and worse graft
survival [145]. KDIGO 2021 underlines the pivotal role of PLA2R measurement. If primary
MN is not associated with PLA2R, they suggest a monthly evaluation of proteinuria for
at least six months after transplantation and to perform a biopsy if this exceeds 1g per
day. If, on the other hand, the primary MN is PLA2R positive, they recommend PLA2R
monitoring with a frequency depending upon the original titer of antibodies. An increase
in such measurements can anticipate a relapse of the disease, anticipating the possibility
of a biopsy even if the proteinuria is below 1g per day. If the proteinuria exceeds 1 g,
Grupper et al. [146] suggest an RTX infusion, with 1 g given two weeks apart. Regardless of
the severity of the proteinuria, RAAS blockade and a check of immunosuppressive regimen
adherence is strongly recommended [7]. In patients who do not achieve immunological
remission, i.e., with detectable PLA2R antibodies, further administration of RTX may
be required [147]. In RMN, it has been used successfully, with 75% of patients having
complete or partial remission at 1 year [148]. Although this has not been evaluated, it is
reasonable to think that a similar evaluation could apply to other antibodies such as anti-
THSD7A [7]. If a secondary cause such as infection or a malignancy is identified, treatment
of the latter may resolve the MN [149]. In some cases, only increasing tacrolimus serum
levels and the use of RAAS blockade improved proteinuria and kept the renal function
stable [149]. In addition, a case of post-transplant NELL-1-positive MN resulting in NS has
been reported that was managed only by adding a double RAAS blockade, atorvastatin
and torsemide, which resulted in partial remission of proteinuria and subsequent NELL-1
antibodies disappearance [150]. Another case described a recurrence of MN positive for
anti-semaphorin 3B antibodies in a 7-year-old child who responded to RTX and enalapril
with a marked improvement in proteinuria and complete remission within 4 months [151].
Thus, if these antibodies are present at the time of transplantation, they may help to predict
the recurrence of MN.

13. Economic Considerations and Patients’ Preference

Another important issue concerns the costs of such therapies; in fact, it is essential
to evaluate the impact that these treatments have on the healthcare budget [152]. Also,
cost evaluations should take into account not only the drugs themselves but also various
factors including the treatment for adverse events, blood drug-concentration monitoring
and end-of-hospitalization laboratory examination. At the moment, few studies have
carried out a cost-effective analysis on the treatment of membranous nephropathy. In
2018, Hamilton et al. compared the modified Ponticelli regimen to rituximab; despite the
high single-dose cost of the latter, at five years post treatment, it remained the cheapest
option in the short and medium term [153]. According to a 2020 Chinese meta-analysis, in
China, the least expensive treatment was cyclophosphamide, while the most expensive was
rituximab in both UK and China. Also, MMF and tacrolimus was characterized by high
cost [154]. Conversely, in 2023, Xu et al. found out that cyclophosphamide and rituximab
were comparable from a cost-effectiveness point of view, while a negative incremental
cost-effective ratio was underlined for calcineurin inhibitors [152]. However, the use of
biosimilars may help in making rituximab more affordable [155].
Moreover, the modified Ponticelli regimen requires various hospital admissions to
perform steroid and cyclophosphamide infusions, while RTX can be administered in an
outpatient setting.
To the best of our knowledge, currently no studies have systematically evaluated
patients’ choice over the various therapeutical opportunities proposed for MN. In our
experience, CYC raises concern due to the risk of malignancy and the effect on fertility;
similarly, other patients wish to avoid steroids or CNI administration for their side effects.
Rituximab, conversely, appears to be well tolerated, especially when administered in an
outpatient setting.
Medicina 2023, 59, 1997 20 of 26

14. Conclusions
In this review, we have summarized the most important points on the treatment
of MN. Although the discovery of new autoantibodies may allow for diagnosis without
a renal biopsy and provide important prognostic and therapeutic clues, currently, up
to 30% of patients do not respond to therapy despite supportive care and appropriate
immunosuppressive therapy, leading to ESRD. The use of new drugs targeting plasma
cells and the complement system, which are currently under investigation, could help to
significantly reduce this percentage. On the other hand, further studies on specific contexts
such as childhood, pregnancy and kidney transplantation are needed to improve diagnosis
and to choose the most appropriate treatment.

Author Contributions: Conceptualization, L.P. and G.C.; methodology, G.G.; writing—original draft
preparation, L.P., V.L., V.M. and C.C.; writing—review and editing, L.P., G.G. and D.S.; visualization,
D.S.; supervision, G.C. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.
Funding: This research received no external funding.
Institutional Review Board Statement: Not applicable.
Informed Consent Statement: Not applicable.
Data Availability Statement: Not applicable.
Conflicts of Interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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