title: Long-term effects of steroid and cytostatic treatment on the clinical course of idiopathic membranous glomerulonephritis (retrospective study).
abstract: The clinical course of 30 patients with idiopathic membranous glomerulonephritis has been followed up for 8.1 +/- 3.4 (4-17) years. First, in each case a long-term prednisone treatment was administered. During this therapy 12 (40%) patients improved and 9 had remission. In the 18 (60%) steroid resistant cases the treatment was combined with cytostatic drugs. After a combined regime for 1.9 +/- 0.8 years, 8 patients have improved, 2 of whom remitted. It has been suggested that due to a long-term immunomodulator therapy the level of urinary protein excretion might be reduced in 77% of patients. There was no effect of the applied treatment in 7% of cases, still in 16% a gradual deterioration was observed. Relapsing nephrotic syndrome has occurred in 3 (10%) of the total cases. Side effects requiring cessation of treatment were not observed.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Internal Medicine, Szeged University Medical School, Hungary.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mohácsi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Magori
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sonkodi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001379:Azathioprine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002699:Chlorambucil / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005921:Glomerulonephritis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D002699:Chlorambucil; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D001379:Azathioprine; D011241:Prednisone