Sequential maintenance therapy with cyclosporin A and mycophenolate mofetil for sustained remission of childhood steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome

Background. There is currently no established standard for maintenance therapy of steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome (SRNS). We report the long-term clinical course, medication, pharmacokinetic data, and renal function of 23 children with primary, non-familial SRNS with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). Methods. To achieve initial remission, patients were treated with high-dose intravenous (i. v.) methylprednisolone and oral cyclosporin A (CsA). Maintenance therapy included transient alternate day oral prednisolone, CsA and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and/or angiotensin receptor blockers. In 18 patients, mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) (adjusted to achieve blood mycophenolic acid trough concentrations > 2 mu g/mL) was sequentially added, and 16 patients were converted to MMF monotherapy. Results. During a mean follow-up time of 7.0 years (1.7-16.5 years; cumulative observation time 161 patient-years), sustained remission could be achieved in all patients. Five of 23 patients (21%) experienced 10 relapses; all responded to relapse therapy. Maintenance therapy could be permanently discontinued in seven patients (30%). After conversion from CsA to MMF, renal function improved significantly; the eGFR at last follow-up was 137 (range 106-198) mL/min x 1.73 m(2). The mean number of antihypertensive drugs decreased from 1.86 per patient after initial remission to 0.57 on MMF monotherapy (P < 0.002). Conclusions. The data of this uncontrolled retrospective study indicate that in children with SRNS/FSGS achieving initial remission, a sequential steroid-free therapy consisting of a combination of CsA and MMF followed by MMF alone (with the addition of ACE inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers), can provide sustained long-term remission, preservation of renal function and better control of blood pressure.