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Tacrolimus combined with corticosteroids versus M odified P onticelli regimen in treatment of idiopathic membranous nephropathy: Randomized control trial
Author(s) -
Ramachandran Raja,
Hn Harsha Kumar,
Kumar Vinod,
Nada Ritambhra,
Yadav Ashok Kumar,
Goyal Ajay,
Kumar Vivek,
Rathi Manish,
Jha Vivekanand,
Gupta Krishan Lal,
Sakhuja Vinay,
Kohli Harbir Singh
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
nephrology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.752
H-Index - 61
eISSN - 1440-1797
pISSN - 1320-5358
DOI - 10.1111/nep.12569
Subject(s) - medicine , membranous nephropathy , tacrolimus , regimen , glomerulonephritis , transplantation , kidney
Aim There have been very few studies comparing cyclophosphamide ( CTX ) and calcineurin inhibitor based regimens in the management of non‐immunosuppressive symptomatic therapy ( NIST ) resistant idiopathic membranous nephropathy ( IMN ). The present study was aimed at comparing the efficacy and safety of tacrolimus ( TAC )/steroids with cyclical CTX /steroids ( M odified P onticelli regimen ( MPR )) in patients with IMN . Methods Idiopathic membranous nephropathy patients ( n = 70) with persistent nephrotic syndrome after at least 6 months of antiproteinuric therapy or with complications of nephrotic syndrome were equally randomized to receive TAC with oral prednisolone ( TAC *) or MPR . Antibodies against m‐type phospholipase A 2 receptor ( PLA 2 R A b) were tested for at baseline and, at 6 and 12 months after the start of therapy. The primary end point was achievement of remission and secondary objectives were adverse effects and estimated glomerular filtration rate in both the study groups. Results Intention‐to‐treat analysis showed that remissions at the end of 6 (74% with TAC * vs. 60% with MPR ; P = 0.30) and 12 months (71% with TAC * vs. 77% with MPR ; P = 0.78) were comparable. PLA 2 R A b titres at 6/12 months correlated with urine protein (r 0.54/0.58) and serum albumin (r −0.49/−0.53) at the end of therapy. Patients on CTX had a significantly higher risk of amenorrhea and while those on TAC had a greater risk of reversible nephrotoxicity. Conclusion I n NIST refractory IMN , both TAC * and MPR are comparable, but with different adverse effect profile. PLA 2 R A b has a very good association with proteinuria, and should be regularly monitored on clinical follow‐up.