Rituximab in a patient with acute renal failure due to B-cell lymphomatous infiltration of the kidneys

Renal failure is known to occur in lymphoproliferative disorders because of ureteral obstruction or parenchymal infiltration by disease. Rituximab is a genetically engineered chimeric murine/human monoclonal antibody directed against the CD20 antigen found on the surface of normal and malignant B-lymphocytes. The pharmacokinetics and metabolism of rituximab is not well established. The extent of renal clearance is not fully known, with little experience reported on the use of rituximab in patients with renal failure. We present a case where rituximab was administered to a patient with acute renal failure due to bilateral kidney infiltration by non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). The patient's renal function improved on therapy, with no need for hemodialysis and there were no significant toxicities. Rituximab may be used as a treatment option for NHL patients with impaired renal function.