Prednisone therapy of membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis in children.
Six children with biopsy-proved type 1 membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN) improved clinically during a 2-year course of prednisone therapy. All children had nephrotic syndrome. Creatinine clearance was less than or equal to 80 ml/min/1.73 m2 in four patients. Initial prednisone dosage ranged from 20 mg every other day to 2 mg/kg/day (maximum 60 mg), with subsequent modifications based on improvement. After completion of a 2-year course of steroid therapy, a repeat kidney biopsy was performed in each child; a decrease in glomerular disease activity was noted in five of them. After a mean follow-up of almost 5 years, all children have creatinine clearance greater than 120 ml/min/1.73 m2, and only one remains nephrotic. Although the use of prednisone in children with MPGN remains controversial, we have observed a diminution in proteinuria and normalization of creatinine clearance with therapy initiated early in the disease course.
D000293:Adolescent; D001706:Biopsy; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005921:Glomerulonephritis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013997:Time Factors
D011241:Prednisone