[Effects of steroid therapy on membranous nephropathy].
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.
Takei
Takashi
T
Department of Medicine, Kidney Center, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo, Japan.
Aoki
Asuka
A
Eguchi
Aya
A
Shimizu
Ari
A
Iwasa
Yuko
Y
Asamiya
Yukari
Y
Matsuda
Nami
N
Sugiura
Hidekazu
H
Itabashi
Mitsuyo
M
Shirota
Satsuki
S
Tsukada
Misao
M
Yoshida
Takumu
T
Uchida
Keiko
K
Tsuchiya
Ken
K
Nitta
Kosaku
K