title: Evaluation of chlorambucil therapy in steroid-dependent and cyclophosphamide-resistant children with nephrosis.
abstract: A prospective study was performed to evaluate the efficacy of chlorambucil in inducing long-term remission in children with steroid-dependent or cyclophosphamide-resistant primary nephrotic syndrome (NS). The 16 steroid-dependent children had a relapse rate of 5.3/patient per year (range 4-8) and a mean age of 8.4 years (range 2-13). The chlorambucil dosage was 0.2 mg/kg per day for a total of 8 weeks. Nine patients (56%) remained in complete remission for an average of 39.2 months (range 16-70). The interval to the first relapse in the remaining 7 ranged from 4 to 41 months and the relapse rate decreased significantly to 0.6 relapses/patient per year (P less than 0.05). Five children had steroid- and cyclophosphamide-resistant NS, 4 with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis and 1 with mesangiol proliferative glomerulonephritis. Chlorambucil was given in a dose of 0.2 mg/kg per day for 8-16 weeks. Complete remission was obtained in 4 patients; 2 patients relapsed. No serious long-term complications were observed in our patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Safat.
authors.forename: A Y
authors.initials: AY
authors.lastname: Elzouki
authors.forename: O P
authors.initials: OP
authors.lastname: Jaiswal
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002699:Chlorambucil / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004351:Drug Resistance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D015993:Life Tables; D008297:Male; D009401:Nephrosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011241:Prednisone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D002699:Chlorambucil; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D011241:Prednisone