INTRODUCTION

Refractory lupus nephritis (LN) causes kidney disease progression and increases the risk of loss of renal function. Due to the high specificity and few side effects of biological agents, they are recommended for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus. There are few data on telitacicept for the treatment of refractory LN.

CASE PRESENTATION

Here, we report the efficacy and safety of telitacicept in the treatment of refractory LN in a 25-year-old female patient. This patient with refractory lupus developed pneumonia while using multitargeted therapy, and the patient's urine protein was rapidly relieved after telitacicept combination with low-dose mycophenolate mofetil (MMF).

CONCLUSION

This result suggests that telitacicept has a positive effect on refractory LN with no significant side effects. Further reports and a registry are necessary to confirm that telitacicept with low-dose MMF should be preferred in refractory LN.