title: Cyclosporin A is superior to cyclophosphamide in children with steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome-a randomized controlled multicentre trial by the Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Pädiatrische Nephrologie.
abstract: First line immunosuppressive treatment in steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome in children is still open to discussion. We conducted a controlled multicentre randomized open label trial to test the efficacy and safety of cyclosporin A (CSA) versus cyclophosphamide pulses (CPH) in the initial therapy of children with newly diagnosed primary steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome and histologically proven minimal change disease, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis or mesangial hypercellularity. Patients in the CSA group (n = 15) were initially treated with 150 mg/m(2) CSA orally to achieve trough levels of 120-180 ng/ml, while patients in the CPH group (n = 17) received CPH pulses (500 mg/m(2) per month intravenous). All patients were on alternate prednisone therapy. Patients with proteinuria >40 mg/m(2) per hour at 12 weeks of therapy were allocated to a non-responder protocol with high-dose CSA therapy or methylprednisolone pulses. At week 12, nine of the 15 (60%) CSA patients showed at least partial remission, evidences by a reduction of proteinuria <40 mg/h per m(2). In contrast, three of the 17 (17%) CPH patients responded (p < 0.05, intention-to-treat). Given these results, the study was stopped, in accordance with the protocol. After 24 weeks, complete remission was reached by two of the 15 (13%) CSA and one of the 17 (5%) CPH patients (p = n.s.). Partial remission was achieved by seven of the 15 (46%) CSA and two of the 15 (11%) CPH patients (p <0.05). Five patients in the CSA group and 14 patients in the CPH group were withdrawn from the study, most of them during the non-responder protocol. The number of adverse events was comparable between both groups. We conclude that CSA is more effective than CPH in inducing at least partial remission in steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome in children.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Loschgestrasse 15, 91054, Erlangen, Germany. christian.plank@uk-erlangen.de
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Plank
authors.forename: Veronica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kalb
authors.forename: Bernward
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hinkes
authors.forename: Friedhelm
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hildebrandt
authors.forename: Olaf
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Gefeller
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Rascher
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004351:Drug Resistance; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D016162:Genes, Wilms Tumor; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007223:Infant; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D009154:Mutation; D009404:Nephrotic Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; C407223:NPHS2 protein; D016572:Cyclosporine; D003520:Cyclophosphamide