title: Combined treatment with steroids and azathioprine in IgA nephropathy: design of a prospective randomised multicentre trial.
abstract: Corticosteroids have had variable success in IgA nephropathy (IgAN). Our previous trial with a six-month course of steroids in IgAN patients showed they were effective in reducing the risk of renal function deterioration and proteinuria, but this effect seemed to decrease in the long term. This new randomised trial was designed to prospectively evaluate whether adding low-dose azathioprine to steroids improves long-term renal survival in adult biopsy-proven IgAN patients with proteinuria > or = 1 g/24 h and plasma creatinine < or = 2.0 mg/dl. The patients will be treated with steroids (methylprednisolone 1 g i.v. for three consecutive days at months 1, 3 and 5, plus oral prednisone 0.5 mg/kg every other day for six months) plus azathioprine 1.5 mg/kg/day for six months or steroids alone with the same schedule. Altogether a minimum of 346 patients should be enrolled within a four-year recruitment period. The planned duration of follow-up is five years.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology and Dialysis, Ospedale di Lecco, Italy. nefrolec@tin.it
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Locatelli
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pozzi
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Del Vecchio
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Andrulli
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pani
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fogazzi
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Altieri
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ponticelli
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001379:Azathioprine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005922:Glomerulonephritis, IGA / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012107:Research Design; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D001379:Azathioprine; D011241:Prednisone; D008775:Methylprednisolone