Cytostatic treatment of glomerular diseases. V. Treatment of glomerulonephritis with cyclophosphamide plus prednisone, azathioprine plus prednisone and cyclophosphamide as monotherapy. A comparative study. A report from a Copenhagen Study Group of Renal Diseases.

Abstract

Thirty-two patients suffering from biopsy-proven glomerulonephritis with proteinuria greater than or equal to 1.2 g/24 hours and/or creatinine clearance less than 50% of normal value were treated for 6 weeks with prednisone plus cyclophosphamide (C+P), azathioprine (A+P) or cyclophosphamide as a monotherapy (C). The effect of the treatment was evaluated after 6 and 16 weeks. The results were entered consecutively in a sequential analysis. The three treatment regimes were compared mutually as well as with the results of 16 weeks' treatment with C and placebo, published previously. Six weeks' treatment with C+P or A+P was superior to C and at least as efficient as 16 weeks' C treatment. C treatment for 6 weeks was less efficient than 16 weeks' C treatment. The side-effects of the 6 weeks' A+P or C+P treatment were fewer and less serious than those reported from the long-term C treatment.