title: Effect of low-dose cyclosporine A in the treatment of refractory proteinuria in childhood-onset lupus nephritis.
abstract: We performed a prospective study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of low-dose cyclosporine A (CSA) treatment in paediatric lupus nephritis refractory to conventional therapy. Seven children with biopsy-proven Class III-IV lupus nephritis were treated with CSA (2-4 mg/kg/day) combined with low-dose prednisone for one year. All patients had failed to achieve sustained proteinuria remission with corticosteroids and cytotoxic drugs. Proteinuria decreased from median value of 2.5 g/24 hours (range, 1.2-4.9) to 0.14 g/24 hours (range, 0.0-0.84) after treatment (P = 0.018). Median values of creatinine clearance and serum creatinine did not change significantly. Median systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity index score decreased from 12 (range, 6-16) to 4 (range, 0-8) at end of treatment (P = 0.027). However, two patients experienced flares of extrarrenal manifestations and complement levels did not improve. Moreover, most patients relapsed with proteinuria within a few months of stopping CSA therapy. Side effects were not significant. In conclusion, low-dose of CSA combined with steroids appears to be useful to reduce proteinuria in paediatric proliferative lupus nephritis refractory to steroids and cytotoxic drugs; however, relapses are common after CSA discontinuation. Further studies are needed to define the precise role of CSA in paediatric lupus nephritis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Hospital de Pediatría Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social. vicbaca@prodigy.net.mx
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Baca
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Catalán
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Villasís-Keever
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ramón
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Morales
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Leyva
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007668:Kidney / Q000502:physiology; D008181:Lupus Nephritis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D011507:Proteinuria / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D016572:Cyclosporine