[A comparative study of therapeutic complications in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and in idiopathic glomerulopathy].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the therapeutic complications due to the use of immunosupressors in patients with nephropathy.


METHODS
76 patients who had used steroids and cyclophosphamide were retrospectively studied. The cases were divided into three groups: G1= 15 patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus without renal lesion; G2= 33 patients with lupus nephritis and G3= 28 patients with nephrotic syndrome owing to idiopathic glomerulopathy.


RESULTS
There were no differences related to time of follow up (G1= 42.4 +/- 51, G2= 52.3 +/- 51, G3= 41.8 +/- 47.8 months), total used dosage of steroids (G1= 20, G2= 28, G3= 16 grams) and time of drug use (G1= 20, G2= 26, G3= 14.5 months). About cyclophosphamide use, there was no difference in the percentage of patients who used it (13% in G1, 51% in G2, 28% in G3), but the patients from G1 received lower total dosage than those from G2 (p<0.05). Cushingoid appearance, epigastric distress, psychiatric disorders, diabetes mellitus and ocular alterations occurred in all the three groups, with no statistically significant differences. The infections complications, those considered more severe clinically, were more frequent in G2 (G1= 6%, G2= 15%, G3= 0% - p<0.05), the same occurring with the deaths (7% in G1, 30% in G2, 0% in G3 - p<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
In patients with lupus nephritis there were more infections complications owing to prolonged immunosuppresion what may indicate a severity marker of this type of lesion.
Balbi
A L
AL
Disciplina de Nefrologia, Departamento de Clínica Médica, Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu, Universidade Estadual Paulista 'Júlio de Mesquita Filho', Botucatu, SP. abalbi@uol.com.br
Barbosa
R A
RA
Lima
M C
MC
Almeida
D B
DB
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000009:adverse effects; D000328:Adult; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008181:Lupus Nephritis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000009:adverse effects; D009404:Nephrotic Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D011241:Prednisone / Q000009:adverse effects; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D011241:Prednisone; D008775:Methylprednisolone