title: Steroid therapy in IgA nephropathy: a retrospective study in heavy proteinuric cases.
abstract: 29 patients with IgA nephropathy whose proteinuria persisted at a level of 2.0 g/day or more and who received prednisolone treatment for 1-3 years were retrospectively evaluated on their clinical courses. 13 of 14 patients with renal dysfunction of less than 70 ml/min in initial creatinine clearance (Ccr) values subsequently entered a progressive course during a follow-up period of 47 months, leading to end-stage renal failure in 8 cases. On the other hand, only 1 of the other 15 patients with preserved renal function of 70 ml/min or more ended up with end-stage renal failure during a follow-up period of 74 months, although 7 underwent a progressive course. Three patients in the latter group experienced a prominent reduction in proteinuria to less than 1.0 g/day and maintained renal function. Meanwhile, the steroid group of moderate proteinuric patients with a creatinine clearance greater than 70 ml/min had a benign course, while the nonsteroid group had an unfavorable one. These results suggest that steroid therapy in IgA nephropathy may be able to stabilize a progressive course, especially in the early stage of the disease, although, because they come from an uncontrolled study, a definite conclusion cannot be drawn.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Kitasato University School of Medicine, Sagamihara, Japan.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fujii
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hiki
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tateno
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kurokawa
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kamiyama
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005922:Glomerulonephritis, IGA / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011507:Proteinuria / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D011239:Prednisolone; D003404:Creatinine