Cyclophosphamide efficacy inmaintenance therapy of nephrotic syndrome in patients withchronic glomerulonephritis

Abstract

Mm. To study effects of cyclophosphamide (CP) on duration of remission in chronic glomerulonephritis (CGN) with nephrotic syndrome (NS). Material and methods. Achievement of complete remission of NS was followed by intravenous treatment with CP in 25 of 28patients. 20 patients were in remission for 7-90 months (mean 38.9 ±5.6 months). NS recurred in 8patients after remission duration from 3 to 48 months (mean 25.4 ±6.1 months). Results. Patients in remission and NS recurrence were comparable by morphology of CGN, gender, CGN history, start of CP treatment, accumulated CP dose at remission induction, 24 h protein urine loss, levels of immunoglobulins, C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, seromucoid, complement titer, circulating immune complexes. Significant differences were observed in duration of CP maintenance, accumulated dose within the first three months and maintenance therapy. Conclusion. CP maintenance in CGN with NS should be conducted as an intravenous pulse-therapy once in 3 weeks for 3 months than once in 1-3 months for 1.5-2 years.

Keywords

• glomerulonephritis
• nephrotic syndrome
• cyclophosphamide
• maintenance therapy