title: A prospective study on the use of mycophenolate mofetil in children with cyclosporine-dependent nephrotic syndrome.
abstract: Cyclosporine A (CsA) has relieved children with steroid-dependent nephrotic syndrome (NS) from steroid toxicity. However, most patients frequently relapse again when CsA is withdrawn, resulting in the development of CsA nephropathy for its long-term use. In order to assess the efficacy of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) therapy, we prospectively analyzed 12 children with idiopathic steroid-dependent NS requiring long-term CsA therapy with MMF for at least 6 months. Mean follow-up after starting MMF was 11 months (range 6-42). The mean MMF dose required was 610+/-95 mg/m(2)/12 h, which maintained mean predose mycophenolic acid (C0-MPA) levels of 2.4+/-1.1 mcg/ml. Treatment with MMF resulted in CsA and/or prednisolone (PSL) sparing, with a reduction in mean CsA dose from 3.5+/-1.3 to 1.5+/-2.4 mg/kg/day (p<0.01), and mean PSL dose from 0.29+/-0.16 to 0.21+/-0.11 mg/kg/day (p<0.05). Nine of 12 patients (75%) were finally able to be weaned off CsA. Mean relapse rates decreased from 2.7+/-1.6 to 0.6+/-0.9 episodes/year (p<0.01). Relapse-free ratio on MMF therapy was lower in patients whose average C0-MPA levels were less than 2 mcg/ml (p<0.05). Our experience demonstrates that MMF therapy results in significant CsA and/or steroid sparing and reduction in relapse rates in children with CsA-dependent NS.
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology, Saitama Children's Medical Center, 2100 Magome, Iwatsuki-ku, Saitama, 339 8551, Japan. f_shuich@d2.dion.ne.jp
authors.forename: Shuichiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fujinaga
authors.forename: Yoshiyuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ohtomo
authors.forename: Daisuke
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Umino
authors.forename: Mayako
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Takemoto
authors.forename: Toshiaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shimizu
authors.forename: Yuichiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yamashiro
authors.forename: Kazunari
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kaneko
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009404:Nephrotic Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D055502:Secondary Prevention
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D016572:Cyclosporine; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid