Treatment of lupus nephritis with cyclosporine - an outcome analysis.
BACKGROUND
The optimal therapy for lupus nephritis (LN), including the role of cyclosporine (CsA), still lacks scientifically valid clinical experience. We evaluated the efficacy of CsA in the induction and maintenance treatment of patients with biopsy-proven LN.


METHODS
A total of 31 patients (25 women, 6 men, mean age 29.5 years) were enrolled in the study. The majority had proliferative LN. The mean follow-up was 85.6 +/- 24.7 months.


RESULTS
CsA was used as first-line treatment in 38.7% of patients and as second-line treatment in 61.3% of patients. Complete remission was achieved in 93.5% of patients. The relapse rate was 45.2%. The mean disease-free interval was 33 months. At the end of follow-up, a total of 67.9% of the patients were in remission. The treatment led to significant improvement in proteinuria (p = 0.001) and stabilization of renal function.


CONCLUSIONS
CsA might be an appropriate and a less toxic alternative drug for LN both as a first-choice and rescue therapy.
Rihova
Zuzana
Z
Nephrology Unit, 1st Medical Faculty, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic. zrihova@centrum.cz
Vankova
Zdenka
Z
Maixnerova
Dita
D
Dostal
Ctibor
C
Jancova
Eva
E
Honsova
Eva
E
Merta
Miroslav
M
Rysava
Romana
R
Tesar
Vladimir
V
D000328:Adult; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008181:Lupus Nephritis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D016572:Cyclosporine