Effect of cyclophosphamide combined with glucocorticoid therapy on idiopathic membranous nephropathy: A multicenter open-label randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to evaluate the effect of cyclophosphamide combined with glucocorticoid therapy on idiopathic membranous nephropathy through a multicenter open-label randomized controlled trial.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: 92 patients with idiopathic membranous nephropathy admitted from March 2020 to September 2022 were included and assigned to a control group (n = 46) and a research group (n = 46) using a random number table. The control group was given glucocorticoid, and the research group was given cyclophosphamide combined with glucocorticoid. Clinical efficacy, renal function-related indicators (serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen and albumin, and 24-hour urine protein quantification), inflammatory factors (interleukin (IL)-6, IL-18, transforming growth factor-β, and tumor necrosis factor-α), immune function-related indicators (anti-phospholipase A2 receptor antibody, and T-lymphocyte subsets), oxidative stress-related indicators (heme oxygenase-1, superoxide dismutase, malondialdehyde, and nitric oxide), blood lipid-related indicators (total cholesterol, triacylglycerol, and low-density lipoprotein), and adverse reactions were compared.

RESULTS: The overall remission rate of the research group was higher than that of the control group (93.48 vs. 78.26%, p < 0.05). After treatment, the research group had lower levels of 24-hour urine protein quantification, serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, IL-6, IL-18, transforming growth factor-β, tumor necrosis factor-α, heme oxygenase-1, malondialdehyde, anti-phospholipase A2 receptor antibody, CD8+, total cholesterol, triacylglycerol and low-density lipoprotein, higher levels of albumin, superoxide dismutase, nitric oxide, and CD4+ and a higher CD4+/CD8+ ratio than the control group (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: Cyclophosphamide combined with glucocorticoid therapy is effective for improving the overall remission rate and can suppress inflammatory responses and oxidative stress in patients with idiopathic membranous nephropathy.