title: Hydroxychloroquine use predicts complete renal remission within 12 months among patients treated with mycophenolate mofetil therapy for membranous lupus nephritis.
abstract: The objective of this study was to identify clinical predictors of response to initial mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) therapy for membranous lupus nephritis (MLN). We observed the clinical outcomes of patients in the Hopkins Lupus Cohort within the first year of initiation of treatment with MMF therapy for newly diagnosed MLN, classified according to the new International Society of Nephrology/Renal Pathology Society (ISN/RPS) 2003 classification. Complete renal remission was defined as proteinuria less than 500 mg/24 hours. Demographic, clinical, treatment and laboratory data were examined for their association with renal remission. Twenty-nine MLN patients treated with MMF were identified. Eleven (38%) patients achieved complete renal remission by 12 months. Of those taking hydroxychloroquine, 7/11 (64%) were in remission within 12 months compared to only 4/18 (22%) of those not on hyroxychloroquine (P = 0.036 based on a log-rank test). This association persisted after controlling for the presence of anti-ds-DNA (P = 0.026). Our results provide evidence that hydroxychloroquine has a benefit for renal remission when MMF is used as the initial therapy for MLN. Although hydroxychloroquine is frequently stopped in patients with lupus nephritis, this study suggests it should be started or maintained.
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kasitanon
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Fine
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Haas
authors.forename: L S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Magder
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Petri
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001706:Biopsy; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006886:Hydroxychloroquine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008181:Lupus Nephritis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011379:Prognosis; D011507:Proteinuria / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D012074:Remission Induction; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D006886:Hydroxychloroquine; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid; D011241:Prednisone