Austin HA, Vaughan EM, Boumpas DT, Balow GE
Randomized trial fo pulse cyclophosphamide and prednisone vs. prednisonealone in idiopathic membranous nepropathy
Am Soc Nephrol
J Am Soc Nephrol (abstract) (Sep) 7:1327 1996

In a randomized study of patients with idiopathic membranous GN, Austin and his colleagues at the NIH studied the effectiveness of a one year course of IV cyclophosphamide every other month with prednisone qod in 17 patients vs. prednisone alone in 14 patients.

The mean GFR was 65 ml/minute measured by Tc-DTPA clearance, and mean 24-hour protein excretion was 10 gm/day. There was improvement in GFR in 73% of patients with values < 60 ml/minute and urine protein decreased by more than 50% in 55% of patients with urine protein greater than 8 gm/day. However, only 20% of patients achieved partial remission and there was no evidence that IV cyclophosphamide plus prednisone was more effective than prednisone alone.

Comment: This represents another study that suggests cyclophosphamide has a limited, if any, role in the treatment of idiopathic membranous GN. (N. Kevin Krane, M.D., Tulane University)

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Am Soc Nephrol
Proteinuria/Hematuria : Membranous GN