RCT: Immunosuppression for progressive membranous nephropathy

Source: Lancet Area: News There is considerable uncertainty regarding the optimum therapeutic management of idiopathic membranous nephropathy which can lead to end-stage renal disease in more than 20% of patients. The benefits of immunosuppressive therapy have been demonstrated in some patients, but not in those patients with declining renal function.   To investigate therapeutic options in this subset, this randomised controlled trial, undertaken in 37 UK renal units, recruited adult patients with biopsy-proven idiopathic membranous nephropathy, a plasma creatinine concentration of less than 300 micromol/L, and at least a 20% decline in excretory renal function measured in the 2 years before study entry.   Patients that met these inclusion criteria were randomised to supportive treatment (n=38; renin-angiotensin blockade, statins, and anticoagulants), supportive treatment plus 6 months of alternating cycles of prednisolone and chlorambucil (n=33), or supportive treatment plus 12 ...
Source: NeLM - News - Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: news