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Pulse Methylprednisolone Therapy in Idiopathic, Rapidly Progressive Glomerulonephritis
- OLU OREDUGBA, M.D.;
- DEBESH C. MAZUMDAR, M.B., B.S.;
- JOHN S. MEYER, M.D.; and
- HERBERT LUBOWITZ, M.D.
Abstract
Idiopathic crescentic glomerulonephritis is associated with a 70% to 80% incidence of end-stage renal failure. Oral corticosteroid therapy in combination with immunosuppressive agents or anticoagulants has not altered the prognosis of this disease. We have seen five adults with idiopathic crescentic glomerulonephritis and treated them with intravenous methylprednisolone. Before therapy, the average serum creatinine concentration was 7.4 ± 1.3 mg/dL (chi-square ± SEM). This value declined to 2.0 ± 0.48 mg/dL within 4 weeks. All patients continue to maintain stable renal function over an average follow-up period of 19 months (range, 1.5 to 36 months). These data suggest that a prospective controlled trial of this therapy is warranted in the management of this entity.
Article and Author Information
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▸From the Division of Nephrology and the Department of Pathology, Washington University Medical Center, The Jewish Hospital of St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri.
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Grant support: by U.S. Public Health Service grant HL06008.
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▸Requests for reprints should be addressed to Debesh C. Mazumdar, M.B., B.S.; Mount Sinai Medical Center, 950 North 12th Street, P.O. Box 342; Milwaukee, WI 53201.
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- Received July 17, 1979.
- Accepted December 27, 1979.
- © 1980 American College of Physicians
