title: [Effects of steroid therapy on membranous nephropathy].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although membranous nephropathy is a common cause of nephrotic syndrome in adults, its treatment remains under debate.
  
  
  METHODS
  To clarify the effects of steroid therapy, the data of 51 Japanese adult patients with idiopathic membranous nephropathy who received treatment at our department were analyzed retrospectively. We divided the patients with nephrotic syndrome and a serum creatinine level <1.7 mg/dL, into two groups: the steroid therapy group (n=20) and the non-steroid therapy group (n=7), and compared the clinical characteristics between the two groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significantly decreased proteinuria levels (p<0.05) after 2 and 5 years were observed in the steroid therapy group as compared to the non-steroid therapy group. There was no significant difference in the serum creatinine levels after 2 and 5 years between the steroid therapy group and the non-steroid therapy group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Steroid therapy in idiopathic membranous nephropathy showed good efficacy in patients with nephrotic syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Kidney Center, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takei
authors.forename: Asuka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aoki
authors.forename: Aya
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Eguchi
authors.forename: Ari
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shimizu
authors.forename: Yuko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Iwasa
authors.forename: Yukari
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Asamiya
authors.forename: Nami
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Matsuda
authors.forename: Hidekazu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sugiura
authors.forename: Mitsuyo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Itabashi
authors.forename: Satsuki
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shirota
authors.forename: Misao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tsukada
authors.forename: Takumu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yoshida
authors.forename: Keiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Uchida
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tsuchiya
authors.forename: Kosaku
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nitta