Evaluation of effects of the intravenous cyclophosphamide treatment of primary glomerulonephritis and the estimation of complications

• Published in: Medicinski pregled Vol. 60 Suppl 2; p. 62
• Main Authors: Strazmester-Majstorović, Gordana, Mitić, Igor, Ilić, Tatjana, Celić, Dejan, Milosević, Aleksandra, Curić, Slobodan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Croatian; Serbian
• Published: Serbia 2007
• Subjects: Alkylating Agents - administration & dosage; Alkylating Agents - adverse effects; Cyclophosphamide - administration & dosage; Cyclophosphamide - adverse effects; Female; Glomerulonephritis - drug therapy; Humans; Infusions, Intravenous; Male; Middle Aged; Pulse Therapy, Drug
• ISSN: 0025-8105

Primary glomerulonephritis can be treated by the intravenous use of cyclophosphamide. The aim of our study is to evaluate the effect of the drug in the treatment of mentioned diseases and the follow-up of complications.
There are 30 patients included in this study, mean-age of 46.83 years. Renal biopsy was performed in 25 patients. Membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis was diagnosed in 36.67% of patients, mesangioproliferative in 16.67%, rapidly progressive in 13,33%, membranous in 10%, chronic in 10%, primary focal segmental glomerulosclerosis in 3,33% and 10% of patients were unclassified They have been treated with cyclophosphamide in intermittent "pulse" doses: once a month fbr the first 6 months and once in 3 months, for 18 months or longer, after that.
The drug was given in the recommended dose of 0.5-lg/m of body-surface area, in the combination with a low-dose corticosteroides. Hematological and renal fimnctional tests were checked before every "pulse" dose. Concerning the development of the renal ailure the fivorable effect occurred in 50% of patients. Proteinuria was found in all patients (80% >3.5 gr/24 h). The favorable effect occurred in 80% patients. At the end, serum proteins were normal in 76.67% patients. 30% of patients normalized the erythrocyte sedimentation level. Remission has not been achieved in 23.33% of patients, 10% of patients developed relapse. 20% of patients died infections were the most common complication and they occurred in 30% of patients. Sepsis, leucopenia, Herpes Zoster infection and hemorrhagic cystitis have not occurred in any patient. Malignant tumor was found in 6.67% of patients.