PURPOSE: This study was planned to determine the efficacy and safety of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) as a rescue treatment in patients with membranous nephropathy (MN) and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) who were not responsive to standard therapy with steroid and immunosuppressive regimen. METHODS: We planned a prospective, non-randomized study from Oct. 2002 to Aug. 2009, including biopsy-proven MN or FSGS patients in Keimyung university Dongsan hospital. MMF was initiated at 0.5-0.75 g twice daily, and advanced as appropriate or as tolerated to 0.75-1 g twice daily. RESULTS: 14 cases with MN and 5 cases with FSGS was enrolled. The mean age of patients was 51.7+/-12.3 years, and mean treatment duration was 14.4+/-6.5 months. Five patients (26.4%) went into complete remission and the seven (36.8%) into partial remission. The mean value of 24hr total urine protein over the follow-up 6 months' period declined significantly from 7.6+/-6.2 g in pre-treatment, to 4.1+/-3.2 g in 3 months, and 3.1+/-2.1 g in 6 months (p=0.011). The mean 24hr total urine protein decreased from 7.5+/-6.3 g in pre-MMF to 1.9+/-1.8 g in post-MMF (p=0.001). The mean serum albumin rose from 3.2+/-0.8 g/dL in pre-MMF to 3.9+/-0.5 g/dL in post-MMF (p=0.001). There were no significant changes in mean value for WBC, hemoglobin, serum creatinine, and total cholesterol. Side effects of MMF were infrequent and generally mild. CONCLUSION: MMF appears effective in 63% of patients with MN and FSGS who are resistant to other forms of treatment. Studies with more cases and multicenter controlled trials are required to establish the role and standards of MMF in these disorders.
Cholesterol ; Creatinine ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glomerulonephritis, Membranous ; Glomerulosclerosis, Focal Segmental ; Hemoglobins ; Humans ; Mycophenolic Acid ; Prospective Studies ; Serum Albumin