title: Can prolonged treatment improve the prognosis in adults with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis?
abstract: Eighty nephrotic adults with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) and plasma creatinine lower than 3 mg/dL were given corticosteroids (53 patients) or immunosuppressive agents (27 patients) for a median of 16 and 75 weeks, respectively. Forty-two patients responded with complete remission (29 patients, 36%) or partial remission (13 patients, 16%). Twenty-six patients who did not respond were treated again. Two patients obtained complete remission and 13 partial remission. The probability of remission was associated with treatment with corticosteroids (P = 0.0001; RR, 3. 93; 95% CI, 2.00 to 7.72), absence of arterial hypertension (P = 0. 0023; RR, 2.59; 95% CI, 1.41 to 4.79), and a percentage of hyaline glomeruli lower than 5% (P = 0.0152; RR, 2.04; 95% CI, 1.15 to 3.64). The probability of being alive at 110 months without doubling of plasma creatinine was 69%. The risk of renal insufficiency was correlated with mesangial proliferation (P = 0.0025; RR, 5.50; 95% CI, 1.82 to 16.60) and with interstitial fibrosis (P = 0.0231; RR, 4. 44; 95% CI, 1.23 to 16.08) at initial biopsy. Considering partial or complete remission as a time-dependent variable, only the lack of remission (P = 0.0027; RR, 7.23; 95% CI, 1.98 to 26.33) and mesangial proliferation (P = 0.0069; RR, 4.59; 95% CI, 1.52 to 13. 88) were correlated with renal failure. Major side effects were observed in 11 patients (5 infections, 1 peptic ulcer, 2 diabetes, 3 neoplasias). This study shows that 70% of nephrotic adults with FSGS may obtain complete or partial remission and maintain stable renal function for about 10 years when given a prolonged therapy with corticosteroids or immunosuppressive drugs.
authors.affiliation: Divisione di Nefrologia e Dialisi, IRCCS Ospedale Maggiore di Milano, Milano, Italy. croffl@polic.cilea.it
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ponticelli
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Villa
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Banfi
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cesana
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pozzi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pani
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Passerini
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Farina
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Grassi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baroli
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D000328:Adult; D001379:Azathioprine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005923:Glomerulosclerosis, Focal Segmental / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D007677:Kidney Function Tests; D007678:Kidney Glomerulus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D008134:Long-Term Care; D008297:Male; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D009404:Nephrotic Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D001379:Azathioprine; D011241:Prednisone; D008775:Methylprednisolone