Increased remission of early stage membranous nephropathy on long-term treatment with corticosteroid.
Sixty-five patients with primary membranous nephropathy were examined in order to assess the effects of long-term treatment with corticosteroid. The observation period varied from 8 to 279 months (average, 95 months). The patients were treated with corticosteroid alone or with combinations of corticosteroid and immunosuppressants, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) and/or dipyridamole. At 6 months after treatment, only 14% of the patients had achieved complete remission. At 24 months after treatment, 46% of the patients showed complete remission. The rate of clinical remission, i.e. complete and incomplete remission, was markedly increased in stage I and II patients with membranous nephropathy by Ehrenreich and Churg's classification but not in stage III patients. The actuarial survival curve indicated that 84% of the patients were alive at 10 years after onset. These data suggest that active treatment with corticosteroid is beneficial for patients with primary membranous nephropathy.
Funabiki
K
K
Department of Medicine, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
Tomino
Y
Y
Shirato
I
I
Yoshida
M
M
Koide
H
H
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004176:Dipyridamole / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015433:Glomerulonephritis, Membranous / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012074:Remission Induction; D015996:Survival Rate; D013997:Time Factors
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D004176:Dipyridamole; D011239:Prednisolone