Alemtuzumab-induced antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated nephritis in a patient with multiple sclerosis

Abstract

Alemtuzumab (ATZ), a potent disease-modifying drug used to treat relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, is a humanized anti-CD52 monoclonal antibody that causes profound depletion of B and T lymphocytes. Despite its potent immunosuppressive effect, paradoxically secondary autoimmune disorders, notably thyroid disease, were reported following ATZ treatment. There were few reports of ATZ-associated renal disease in the form of membranous glomerulonephritis and anti-glomerular basement membrane disease. In this article, we reported a 45-year-old female patient with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis with ANCA (antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody)-associated vasculitis resulting in rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis limited to the kidney after ATZ treatment.