title: Treatment with cyclosporine A improves SLE disease activity of Japanese patients with diffuse proliferative lupus nephritis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Cyclosporine A (CyA), a representative calcineurin inhibitor, may be useful for the treatment of lupus nephritis. In contrast to knowledge about its strong effects against proteinuria, however, there is little information about the beneficial effects of CyA against clinical disease activity of diffuse proliferative lupus nephritis.
  
  
  METHODS
  To elucidate this issue, we investigated the effects of low-dose CyA treatment (< 2.5 mg/kg/d) in 11 Japanese adult patients (1 male, 10 female) with uncontrolled diffuse proliferative lupus nephritis with severe clinical SLE disease activity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In addition to amelioration of the proteinuric state, the clinical SLE disease activities, estimated by serological markers and the SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI), were significantly improved in all patients within 1 month. The required amounts of corticosteroid were decreased in these patients. These favorable effects continued for 2 y without serious adverse effects. Kidney function was not changed in the patients with satisfactory kidney function prior to CyA therapy (serum creatinine < 1.1 mg/dl, and eGFR > 45 ml/ min/1.73 m2).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The current study results suggest that low-dose CyA treatment could ameliorate the severe clinical SLE disease activity as well as improve proteinuria in Japanese patients with diffuse proliferative lupus nephritis. This treatment would be safe and useful for SLE patients with satisfactory kidney function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology Internal Medicine, Shinshu University School of Medicine, Nagano, Japan. yujibeat@shinshu-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kamijo
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hashimoto
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ehara
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shigematsu
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Higuchi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007564:Japan; D007668:Kidney / Q000473:pathology*; D007677:Kidney Function Tests; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D008181:Lupus Nephritis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011507:Proteinuria / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D016572:Cyclosporine