title: [Clinical application of tacrolimus with low-dose prednisone in 21 children with steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze and evaluate the efficacy and safety of tacrolimus and low-dose steroids in the treatment of steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome in children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-one children with steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome enrolled from October 2008 to July 2010 into this retrospective longitudinal study received oral tacrolimus treatment, 0.1 to 0.15 mg/kg per day and once every 12 hours, and prednisone 0.2 to 0.75 mg/kg per day simultaneously. During the treatment, the plasma concentration of tacrolimus, urine volume, urine, serum creatinine and liver function were regularly monitored.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After 1 to 3 months treatment, 14 cases showed complete remission and 7 cases had partial remission. Sixteen patients received renal biopsy, of whom 6 revealed minimal change nephropathy with complete remission in 3 cases, 3 cases had partial remission;4 cases revealed focal segmental glomerulosclerosis with 2 complete remission and 2 partial remission; other 5 children with IgM nephropathy and 1 mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis achieved complete remission. Within treatment period, 6 patients presented transient adverse reactions, without altering the principle treatment strategy, but only taking the symptomatic treatment. During follow-up, 1 case was lost to follow-up and the remaining 20 cases were followed up from 2 months to 21 months. In 4 patients the disease relapsed within 1st-year follow-up, while at 2nd-year follow-up, 4 cases had (6 times) recurrence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Tacrolimus showed a reliable effect in children with steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome. Less adverse reactions were seen, and most of them could be tolerated. Nevertheless, the patients had a higher relapse rate after 1 to 2 years treatment. Therefore, the long-term effects of tacrolimus for steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome remains to be further evaluated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Sheng-hua
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.forename: Jian-hua
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.forename: Yong-hui
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.forename: Da-yan
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yi-fang
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Cheng-qing
authors.initials: CQ
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.forename: Ai-min
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Li-zhong
authors.initials: LZ
authors.lastname: Du
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004351:Drug Resistance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009404:Nephrotic Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D011241:Prednisone; D016559:Tacrolimus