title: Assessment of mycophenolate mofetil for treatment of frequently relapsing nephrotic syndrome in children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the efficacy and adverse effect of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) in the treatment of frequently relapsing nephrotic syndrome in children.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study population consisted of 37 children (24 simple nephrotic syndrome and 13 nephritis-type syndrome) suffering from frequently relapsing nephrotic syndrome. Patients received 20-30 mg/(kg d) of MMF in conjunction with 1 mg/(kg d) prednisone for 3-6 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of 24 patients suffered from simple nephrotic syndrome, 17 patients (70.8%) with complete relief, 4 patients (16.7%) with partial relief and 3 patients (12.5%) with non-relief, whereas out of 13 patients suffered from nephritis-type syndrome 6 patients (46.2%) with complete relief, 3 patients (23.1%) with partial relief and 4 patients (30.7%) with non-relief. Eight patients with Minimal Change Disease (MCD) achieved complete relief. Of 23 patients with Mesangial Proliferative Glomerulonephritis (MsPGN) or Membranoproliferative Glomerulonephritis (MPGN), complete relief was observed in 17 patients (73.9%), partial relief in 4 patients (17.4%) and non-relief in 2 patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These Results suggest that MMF has better efficacy against simple renal disease than against nephritis-type syndrome, and MMF may be more suitable for the treatment of frequently relapsing nephrotic syndrome characterized by proliferative lesions.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pediatric Nephrology, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011, China. yizhuwen@yahoo.com.cn
authors.forename: Zhu-wen
authors.initials: ZW
authors.lastname: Yi
authors.forename: Xi-qiang
authors.initials: XQ
authors.lastname: Dang
authors.forename: Qing-nan
authors.initials: QN
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Xiao-chuan
authors.initials: XC
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Dan-lin
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Xiao-jie
authors.initials: XJ
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Shuang-hong
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Mo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; 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*; D012008:Recurrence; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid