title: Therapy of IgA nephropathy with mycophenolate mofetil--report of 3 cases.
abstract: Mycophenolate mofetil is an immunosuppressive agent in transplantation which inhibits the purin neogenesis. Proliferating lymphocytes are suppressed and antibody production is decreased. Many cases of successful therapy in different kidney diseases are reported, such as diffuse proliferative lupus nephritis, pauci-immune necrotizing glomerulonephritis, focal segmental glomerular sclerosis and IgA nephropathy. We report 3 patients with IgA nephropathy who were treated with mycophenolate mofetil for more than 1 year. In all patients, proteinuria decreased significantly and the renal function remained stable. In 2 patients, kidney biopsy was repeated after 12 months and 18 months, respectively. There were no histological signs of progression of the disease. Two patients developed infections during treatment. One patient had a pneumonia, and a second patient an infection with varizella zoster. Based on our data, mycophenolate mofetil can be a potential treatment of IgA nephropathy. Further controlled studys are warranted to investigate the role of mycophenolate mofetil in IgA nephropathy.
authors.affiliation: Medizinische Klinik A, Klinikum der Stadt Ludwigshafen, Ludwigshafen. bergnerr@klilu.de
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bergner
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hoffmann
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Brass
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Uppenkamp
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001706:Biopsy; D005922:Glomerulonephritis, IGA / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007678:Kidney Glomerulus / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid