Low dose cyclosporine A in the treatment of resistant proliferative lupus nephritis.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate long-term efficacy of low dose cyclosporine A (CsA) in the treatment of resistant proliferative lupus nephritis.

METHODS: In this retrospective study, patients with biopsy proven proliferative lupus nephritis who were unresponsive to combination therapy with steroid plus mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) or cyclophosphamide (CYC) and had been treated with CsA were included. Efficacy monitoring was based on the systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) disease activity index, dose of prednisolone, serum complement, anti-double stranded DNA (anti-dsDNA) titration, urine analysis, proteinuria, creatinine clearance, remission of the renal disease, renal survival and involvement of other organs.

RESULTS: This study included 27 consecutive patients (22 females, 5 males) with resistant proliferative lupus nephritis. Mean duration of follow up and treatment with CsA were 40.7 ± 24.9 and 35.2 ± 19.1 months, respectively. Complete and partial renal remission occurred in 66.9% and 25.7% patients, respectively. Creatinine clearance was stable, proteinuria and anti-dsDNA titer decreased, and C3 and C4 increased significantly during the treatment with CsA. Severe complications such as death, dialysis, kidney transplantation and severe infection did not occur in the studied patients during the follow-up period.

CONCLUSIONS: Low-dose CsA could induce renal remission and ameliorate the SLE disease activity in patients with resistant proliferative lupus nephritis and it would be a safe drug for treatment of these patients.