Int Urol Nephrol. 2026 Jul 24. doi: 10.1007/s11255-026-05307-w. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy of telitacicept in patients with biopsy-proven lupus nephritis.
METHODS: Twenty-one patients diagnosed with lupus nephritis by taking the renal biopsy were enrolled in this study and received telitacicept treatment for at least 6 months. The laboratory test and renal remission rate were assessed during the follow-up period.
RESULTS: All patients were followed for at least 12 months. At the 12-month follow-up, patients with Class II, III, or V LN all had achieved complete or at least partial remission, whereas some patients with Class III + V, IV, or IV + V LN had not achieved remission. However, with extended follow-up (median of 24 months), all patients ultimately achieved complete or partial remission by the end of the study. Significant improvements were observed at 3 months, including a decrease in the urinary protein to creatinine ratio (UPCR) and increases in serum albumin (ALB) and hemoglobin (Hb) levels. C3, C4 complement concentrations, and platelet (PLT) were markedly elevated at 1 month, while immunoglobulins (IgG, IgA, and IgM) decreased significantly and remained at low levels over the following 12 months. No severe adverse events were reported during the observation period. Compared with the noninitial-treatment group, patients initially treated with telitacicept had significantly lower baseline albumin, C3, and C4 levels, but subsequent follow-up revealed no statistically significant differences between the groups.
CONCLUSIONS: Telitacicept is a promising treatment option for patients with LN. The study demonstrated favorable efficacy and safety in LN patients, regardless of whether they were undergoing initial therapy, had failed previous treatments, or had experienced disease relapse. Further randomized controlled trials are warranted to confirm this conclusion.
PMID:42498888 | DOI:10.1007/s11255-026-05307-w
