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- Title
Restrictive use of immunosuppressive treatment in patients with idiopathic membranous nephropathy: high renal survival in a large patient cohort.
- Authors
P.W.G. du Buf-Vereijken; G.W. Feith; D. Hollander; P.G.G. Gerlag; J.J.J.M. Wirtz; T.C. Noordzij; J.F.M. Wetzels
- Abstract
Background: Immunosuppressive treatment initiated at an early stage in patients with idiopathic membranous nephropathy (iMN) improves renal survival. Treatment should ideally be restricted to high-risk patients.Aim: To evaluate the efficacy of a restrictive immunosuppressive treatment strategy for patients with iMN.Design: Prospective cohort study evaluating a predefined treatment protocol.Methods: From 1988, we adopted a restrictive treatment strategy: immunosuppressive treatment, mainly consisting of cyclophosphamide and steroids, was advised only in patients with renal insufficiency or severe intolerable nephrotic syndrome. We evaluated this strategy in a large patient cohort. To exclude any bias, we included all adult patients with iMN biopsied in the study period with a serum creatinine (Scr) < 135 μmol/l, a proteinuria ≥ 3.0 g/day and/or a serum albumin (Salb) ≤ 30 g/l at the time of biopsy. Analysis was according to the intention-to-treat principle.Results: We studied 69 patients. At the time of biopsy, mean age was 51 years, Scr 90 μmol/l, Salb 23 g/l and proteinuria 6.7 g/day. Average follow-up was 5.5 years. Thus far 33 (48%) patients have received immunosuppressive therapy, mainly because of renal insufficiency (n = 24). Status at the end of follow-up was: complete remission n = 22 (32%), partial remission n = 24 (35%), nephrotic syndrome n = 15 (22%), persistent proteinuria n = 1 (1.4%), ESRD n = 6 (8.7%), death n = 1 (1.4%; due to bladder carcinoma after cyclophosphamide therapy). Patient survival was 100% at 5 and 7 years. Renal survival was 94% at 5 years and 88% at 7 years.Discussion: In patients with iMN, a restrictive treatment policy assures a favourable prognosis, while preventing exposure to immunosuppressive therapy in >50% of the patients.
- Publication
QJM: An International Journal of Medicine, 2004, Vol 97, Issue 6, p353
- ISSN
1460-2725
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1093/qjmed/hch059