Follow-up prednisolone dosage in rapidly progressive crescentic glomerulonephritis successfully treated with pulse methylprednisolone or plasma exchange.
Of nineteen patients with RPCGN who responded promptly to initial treatment with PMP or PX, and who were subsequently maintained on oral immunosuppression with prednisolone (reducing dosage from 30mg/day) and azathioprine/cyclophosphamide (1-3 mg/kg/day), five showed progressive loss of renal function within one year of responding to treatment. Both the daily dose at four weeks and the cumulative dose of prednisolone at six months were significantly lower (p less than 0.01) in the group whose renal function deteriorated. We suggest that the follow-up dosage of prednisolone may be critical in maintaining continued stable renal function in the first few months after starting PMP or PX.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005921:Glomerulonephritis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D010951:Plasma Exchange; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D011239:Prednisolone; D008775:Methylprednisolone