[Complete remission of minimal change nephrotic syndrome with type 2 diabetes mellitus treated by microemulsion formulation of cyclosporin and fluvastatin].
A microemulsion formulation of cyclosporin (Neoral) has been developed to overcome the problems of poor and variable absorption of cyclosporin. Neoral is a potent immunosuppressive agent that is highly bound in the plasma. It has been proposed that low-density lipoprotein (LDL) delivers cyclosporin (CsA) to T-lymphocytes via the LDL receptor pathway, where it produces its therapeutic effects. Herein, we report a case of minimal change nephrotic syndrome with type 2 diabetes mellitus treated by Neoral and fluvastatin. A 65-year-old male with a 10-year history of type 2 diabetes mellitus suddenly developed nephrotic syndrome. The potential causative drugs, such as NSAIDs and antibiotics, had not been administered. The laboratory findings were as follows: proteinuria 23 g/day, serum albumin 1.9 g/dl, total cholesterol 629 mg/dl, LDL-Cho 1,930 mg/dl. Renal biopsy was normal on light microscopy, and immunofluorescence demonstrated no staining. Due to the risk of deterioration of diabetes by administering prednisolone, he was given Neoral at 2.0 mg/kg/day. He was also given fluvastatin (40 mg/day) for hyperlipidemia after the renal biopsy. At four weeks after the start of Neoral and fluvastatin, his nephrosis continued, but his LDL-Cho and total cholesterol decreased. At six weeks after treatment, proteinuria gradually reduced. At eight weeks after treatment, the proteinuria had disappeared. Nephrotic syndrome is often associated with abnormal lipid metabolism, and many patients with nephrotic syndrome show high levels of LDL-Cho. It has been reported recently that LDL apheresis is effective against nephrotic syndrome. However, in the present case, it can be speculated that the improvement of hyperlipidemia by fluvastatin probably augmented the effect of Neoral, presumably through the increased cellular uptake of Neoral. This suggests that fluvastatin may be considered as the treatment of choice for the disturbed lipoprotein profile in patients with nephrotic syndrome.
Makibayashi
Kojiro
K
Department of Internal Medicine, Kansai Electoric Power Hospital, Osaka, Japan.
Fukatsu
Atsushi
A
Kita
Toru
T
D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004655:Emulsions; D005229:Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000077340:Fluvastatin; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007211:Indoles / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009402:Nephrosis, Lipoid / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D012074:Remission Induction; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D004655:Emulsions; D005229:Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D007211:Indoles; D000077340:Fluvastatin; D016572:Cyclosporine