Hypokalemia after rituximab administration in nephrotic syndrome: two case reports

Abstract

Rituximab, a chimeric anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody, is an effective treatment for nephrotic syndrome. Hypokalemia is a rare adverse reaction among patients treated with rituximab although there have been extensive reports of acute and chronic adverse events with the administration of rituximab. We herein report two cases of symptomatic hypokalemia after intravenous rituximab administration in our center, to help health professionals consider the possibility of acute hypokalemia after rituximab administration, monitor potassium timely and develop an appropriate treatment plan.

Case report: One case of refractory membranous nephropathy with hypokalemia after rituximab infusion was switched to obinutuzumab without recurrence of hypokalemia

“…An elderly patient with MCD, who received rituximab in lieu of steroid therapy, developed hypokalaemia after only her third dose. Additionally, a young woman with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (NS) was introduced to rituximab as a means of decreasing reliance on prednisone (Song et al, 2023). The diagnosis of acute hypokalaemia was made during her sixth intravenous rituximab infusion.…”