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Eric is a 54-year-old attorney, musician, husband and father of two teenagers from Fanwood, New Jersey. In the Spring of 2019 his cholesterol skyrocketed and he went on a statin without much thought, concluding this was just a side effect of middle age and a changing metabolism. In December of 2019, Eric was constantly bragging to his wife about how an increased workout regimen seemed to be building muscle in his previously scrawny calves. However, then he went for a follow up appointment to complete bloodwork to ensure that the statin was working; You can most likely guess the rest: what he thought was muscle mass was actually water and he was spilling excessive protein in his urine as well as on his way to more bloodwork, a biopsy and a definitive diagnosis of MN.
The conventional first line approach of large doses of high blood pressure medication (16 mg Candesartan daily) and blood thinner (20 mg Eliquis) did not make a dent on Eric’s proteinuria. Furthermore, the combination of the anti-hypertensive and blood thinner made Eric prone to occasional dizzy spells as well as he found that his endurance as a performing musician suffered. After a few months, with his labs getting worse, Eric’s nephrologist recommended off- label Rituxan (Rituximab). Rituximab is not approved for treatment of MN but is approved for several types of cancer and rheumatoid arthritis. After four IV infusions over the course of 10 months, Eric went into full remission, where he has remained for two years.
Eric knows that he has been incredibly lucky and that most fellow MN patients do not have such a smooth journey and positive outcome. Furthermore, he is grateful that he has had a few opportunities through social media to share his experience with fellow patients.
He continues to “maintain” by taking 40 mg daily of Candesartan and does his best to minimize sodium in his diet as well as go for bloodwork every six months. Otherwise, this potentially serious disease that once occupied his thoughts daily for more than a year, is rarely on his mind. In what is perhaps a good sign for his kidneys but a continuing blow to his ego, the calves that he once mistakenly thought were augmented by new muscle are back to their pre-MN scrawniness.
Eric knows that he has been incredibly lucky and that most fellow MN patients do not have such a smooth journey and positive outcome. Furthermore, he is grateful that he has had a few opportunities through social media to share his experience with fellow patients. Eric welcomes you to contact him through social media and he’ll be happy to speak with you and help all that he can!
