Literature searchThis meta-analysis

Literature search

This meta-analysis was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement20. Our meta-analysis searches were conducted using the PubMed, Web of Science Knowledge and Cochrane Library databases from their inception dates to August 1, 2014. The search applied the following search terms: “rituximab”, “CD20”, and “nephrotic syndrome”.
Study selection criteria and study types

RCTs or comparative cohort studies that evaluated the efficacy and safety of rituximab in treating pediatric patients with refractory NS were included.
Type of participants

The patients were diagnosed with NS at 18 years of age and younger.
Type of interventions

Rituximab and current immunotherapy were compared. Different schedules and modalities of rituximab were included.
Analyzed outcomes

The primary outcome was relapse-free survival. The secondary outcomes were (1) complete remission events, (2) biological indicators, including proteinuria, serum albumin, serum cholesterol and serum creatinine, and (3) adverse events.
Study selection and data extraction

The references obtained from the electronic search were evaluated by two independent reviewers (Zhao Z and Liao G) using a study selection form. The initial assessment was based on screening the titles and abstracts; studies that did not meet the inclusion criteria were excluded. The studies that were not excluded after an initial evaluation were retrieved for full text screening and, according to the inclusion criteria, it was determined whether the study should be included in our analysis. In cases of disagreement, the final decision for inclusion was made by consensus among the authors. Review articles, case reports, comments, meeting abstracts and editorials were excluded.

The data were extracted by two independent reviewers (Zhao Z and Liao G). The extraction data included the (1) study characteristics (authors, publication year), (2) study design features, (3) study participants (e.g., eligibility criteria and baseline characteristics), (4) study interventions, and (5) study outcomes (efficacy and safety outcomes).