Treatment of membranous nephropathy with crescent nephritis by rituximab: A case report

Crescent formation is rare in primary membranous nephropathy (MN). The mechanism of crescent formation is unknown and the treatments are tentative. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 71-year-old woman presented with nephrotic syndrome, hematuria, and rapidly progressive kidney dysfunction. DIAGNOSIS: Kidney biopsy was performed, and the diagnosis was MN in combination with crescentic glomerulonephritis. Circulating anti-PLA2R was detected of a high level. INTERVENTIONS: The patient received rituximab besides corticosteroids. OUTCOMES: The patient achieved complete remission of proteinuria and recovery of kidney function. CONCLUSION: Our case suggests that there is a pathologic feature of MN and crescents in the absence of known immunologic factors as well as rituximab could serve as an effective cure and could be considered in serious MN conditions.