Immunosuppressive treatment of allergic nephropathies

Nine patients (three with subacute and six with chronic glomerulonephritis) have been treated with 6-mercaptopurine and azathioprine. The severity of the disease was determined on the evidence of protein excretion, the Addis count and the level of serum complement. The results justify not more than moderate optimism. Cytostatic drugs are applied only if corticosteroid therapy has no effect or is contraindicated. Peptic ulcer and amyloidosis are absolute, obesity and diabetes relative contraindications of steroid therapy. Epilepsy accompanying collagen disease is not a contraindication. Subcapsular cataract provoked by steroids makes no further progress if the steroid therapy has to be continued. Steroids, if administered after the 15th year of age, do not impede growth. A combination of cytostatic agents and corticosteroids seems to be beneficial and is perhaps less dangerous, although a patient developed agranulocytosis after having been treated with a combination of 6-mercaptopurine and prednisolone.