Intravenous cyclophosphamide in lupus nephritis: twenty years reducing dose

The prognosis for patients with proliferative glomerulonephritis associated with systemic lupus erythematosus has dramatically improved over recent decades. We review our experience with intermittent pulse therapy with intravenous cyclophosphamide (IC) in 97 patients (75 female) aged over 20 years. The series was divided into three groups. Group A (n=39) received monthly IC pulses (begin 1 g) for up to 24 months between 1985-1991. Group B (n=47) received monthly IC pulses (1 g) for six months with additional quarterly doses for a maximum of 18 months, depending on the therapeutic response (from 1991). From 1999, Group C (n=11) patients were treated with low-dose IC (3 g in three months) followed by azathioprine (2 mg/kg) or mycophenolate mofetil (1.5-2.0 g/day) for 12-18 months. The total IC doses (g) administered were: Group A, 15.1+/-9.0; Group B, 8.5+/-3.5; and Group C, 3.0+/-0.0. These figures show the trend progressive reduction in exposure to IC. Overall, treatment with the different IC regimens achieved satisfactory control of lupus nephritis in 76% of the patients. Comparison of the values at baseline and after 24 months showed that the serum creatinine (mg/dl) fell in Group A from 1.77+/-1.06 to 1.09+/-0.63, in Group B from 1.22+/- 0.85 to 0.95+/- 0.45, and in Group C from 0.90+/-0.23 to 1.17+/-0.54 (p<0.05). In the same period, proteinuria (g/day) fell in Group A from 6.19+/-4.31 to 0.79+/-1.76, in Group B from 4.43+/- 3.17 to 2.08+/-3.65, and in Group C from 5.43+/- 3.37 to 3.22+/-4.00 (p=0.05). There was not differences between the three groups in both variables. The adverse effects were mainly viral and bacterial infections, with no intergroup differences. Avascular osteonecrosis requiring hip replacement and early menopause were more frequent in Group A. Nine patients died, seven due to cardiovascular causes and two with infection. No differences were detected between the three groups when analyzing the overall patient survival at 5, 10 and 15 years (95%, 92%, and 84%, respectively). The likelihood of maintaining serum creatinine within normal ranges or less than twice the baseline range was similar in the three groups at 5, 10 and 15 years (92%, 72% and 66%, respectively). There were 47 episodes of relapse, with no differences between the three groups. In Summary, treatment with different regimens of intermittent IC is relatively safe and efficient to control the disease and lupus nephritis in SLE patients even with progressively smaller doses. The price paid concerned infectious complications, and bone and ovarian toxicity. New alternatives should at least maintain the same efficacy, but with fewer adverse effects and relapses.     

Intravenous immunoglobulin treatment of lupus nephritis

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical response of treatment-resistant membranous and membranoproliferative lupus nephritis to intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg). METHODS: Seven lupus nephritis patients who failed to respond to at least prednisone and cyclophosphamide were studied. A kidney biopsy showing either membranous or membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis was available in six patients. They were treated with six courses (patients 1 and 2) or 1 or 2 courses (patients 3 through 7) of high-dose IVIg. For patients 3 through 7, the plasma levels of albumin, total cholesterol, urea, creatinine, dsDNA antibody titers, and daily proteinuria were measured just before the IVIg therapy, immediately on completion, and 6 months later. RESULTS: All seven patients had a beneficial response to IVIg. In patient 1, decrease in proteinuria was evident 2 weeks after IVIg was started, nephrotic syndrome gradually disappeared, and she had no proteinuria in 3 years' follow-up. Decline in proteinuria was evident in patient 2 after the 4th IVIg course, but proteinuria reached the pretreatment level 4 months after the therapy ended. In patients 3 through 7, the mean daily proteinuria before IVIg (5.3 +/- 2.1 g) decreased after 1 or 2 IVIg courses (3.3 +/- 1.4 g), and further decreased when measured 6 months later (2.1 +/- 1.3 g). Similarly, the plasma cholesterol level decreased while the plasma albumin level increased after IVIg. CONCLUSIONS: IVIg might be effective in treatment-resistant membranous or membranoproliferative lupus nephritis. Future studies should concentrate on determining the preferred treatment protocol of IVIg for the various classes of lupus nephritis.     

Intravenous cyclophosphamide improves cardiac dysfunction in lupus myocarditis

We describe a Chinese woman who developed severe heart failure 3 years from the onset of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Endomyocardial biopsy confirmed lupus myocarditis, with focal infiltrates of small lymphocytes and some polymorphic neutrophils. The conventional treatment for cardiac failure plus oral prednisolone failed to bring clinical and echocardiographical improvement until the addition of intravenous (i.v.) 'pulse' cyclophosphamide. Three weeks after i.v. cyclophosphamide treatment, there was significant improvement of her heart failure symptoms with improvement in the ejection fraction from 19% to 63%.     

Combined intravenous methotrexate and cyclophosphamide for refractory childhood lupus nephritis

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of combining monthly intravenous methotrexate (IV MTX) with monthly IV cyclophosphamide (CYTX; given on the same day) for the treatment of children who develop recurrent diffuse proliferative glomerulonephritis secondary to systemic lupus erythematosus during or after the standard 3 year course of IV CYTX. METHODS: Five children were treated with nine monthly doses of IV CYTX (750-1000 mg/m(2)/month) and IV MTX (50-300 mg/m(2)/month) given on the same day. Their clinical and laboratory measurements were collected every other week throughout the nine months. RESULTS: All children improved dramatically. SLEDAI scores decreased from an average of 13.8 to 4.4, mean (SD) serum creatinine level fell from 100 (60) to 80 (40) micro mol/l, and serum albumin rose from 28 (11) g/l to 41 (6) g/l, while the mean (SD) C3 level increased from 0.5 (0.1) g/l to 0.9 (0.4) g/l. Clinical improvement persisted after 4 years' follow up despite discontinuing MTX and CYTX after 9 months. The average daily dose of corticosteroids has been reduced from 27.6 mg/day at the start of treatment to 12.5 mg/day at follow up. CONCLUSION: Combined IV MTX and IV CYTX treatment effectively controls recurrent or refractory lupus nephritis in children with significant disease activity after treatment with IV CYTX alone.     

非清髓性环磷酰胺治疗难治性狼疮肾炎的初步研究

目的 探讨非清髓性环磷酰胺(CTX)冲击治疗难治性狼疮肾炎(LN)的疗效及安全性.方法 对6例难治性LN患者进行非清髓性CTX 20～40 mg/kg冲击治疗,比较CTX治疗前后2周血、尿检测指标、肾小球滤过率(GFR)、尿蛋白定量(24 h)、系统性红斑狼疮活动指数(SLEDA1)评分的变化.结果 治疗后2周尿蛋白定量(24 h)显著降低[(1904±904)和(319±97)mg,P＜0.05],尿白细胞计数[(2.7±2.8)和(0.5±1.0)个/μP＜0.05]和SLEDAI评分[(17±5)和(6±5)]治疗前后差异均有统计学意义(P＜0.05),而血清补体C3水平显著升高[(0.60±0.17)和(0.94±0.78)g/L,P=0.017],差异均有统计学意义.白细胞达谷值距CTX末次冲击时间平均为11.2 d.1例出现鼻窦炎,1例脱发,2例胃肠道反应.结论 非清髓性CTX冲击治疗难治性LN安全有效.这一初步研究结果有待大样本的临床双盲试验证实.     

霉酚酸酯与环磷酰胺治疗Ⅳ型伴Ⅴ型狼疮性肾炎的疗效比较

目的：比较霉酚酸酯（MMF）与间断环磷酰胺（CTX）静脉冲击疗法治疗弥漫增生性狼疮性肾炎（Ⅳ）伴膜性病变型（V型）狼疮性肾炎（Ⅳ＋Ⅴ型LN）的临床疗效。方法：2000年1月至2004年1月间在解放军肾脏病研究所对经肾穿刺活检诊断为Ⅳ＋Ⅴ型LN患者43例，比较同期激素联合MMF（MMF组，n=20），与激素联合CTX间断静脉冲击治疗（CTX组，n=23例）的疗效。MMF剂量1．5s／d或2s／d；CTX剂量为0．75～1g／m^2。体表面积，每月静脉滴注一次。除MMF组血清肌酐高于CTX组外，其它基础病情两组相似。比较两组治疗6个月的完全缓解率、部分缓解率。结果：（1）临床缓解率：治疗6个月时MMF组缓解率高于CTX组：完全缓解率分别为20％和4．4％（P〈0、05），部分缓解率分别为60％和34．8％（P〈0．05）。（2）尿蛋白及尿红细胞变化：MMF组尿蛋白完全缓解率（≤0.4S／24h）高于CTX组（20％傩4、4％，P〈0．05），红细胞缓解率也高于CTX组（63％傩50％，P〉0．05）。（3）自身抗体变化：MMF与CTX组患者分别有78．9％及69．6％血清抗-dsDNA转阴，ANA转阴率分别为36.9％和8．7％（P〈0.05）。（4）肾脏病理变化：5例行重复肾活检。MMF组2例达部分缓解，肾小球增生性病变及血管炎性病变消失，上皮侧沉积物未减少，CTX组3例（1例部分缓解，2例无效）仍见增生性病变及袢坏死，2例未缓解者上皮侧沉积物增多。（5）副作用：MMF组并发带状疱疹2例，上呼吸道感染、白细胞减少各1例，CTX组2例并发带状疱疹及细菌性肺炎，4例有明显消化道症状，各有1例并发白细胞减少、肝酶升高和脱发。结论：激素联合MMF治疗Ⅳ＋Ⅴ型狼疮性肾炎6个月的临床缓解率高于CTX，但绝大部分仅获部分缓解，对此类型LN最佳治疗方法仍需进一步临床研究。     

Intravenous immunoglobulin therapy in a patient with lupus serositis and nephritis

The use of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) has been reported as an immunomodulating agent in several autoimmune diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Herein we report a SLE patient with severe clinical presentation that included pericarditis, pleural effusion, nephrotic range proteinuria, leukopenia, and lymphopenia. The patient received one course of high-dose IVIg (2.8 g/kg body weight), and within a week of post-IVIg therapy, her condition significantly improved. One-month post-IVIg there were decreased proteinuria, elevated leukocytes and lymphocytes count, decrease in antinuclear and anti-dsDNA antibodies, and disappearance of pericarditis and pleuritis. This case demonstrates the efficacy of IVIg in severe SLE with various clinical manifestations. Received: 14 January 2000 / Accepted: 20 March 2000     

Overwhelming fatal infection in a young woman after intravenous cyclophosphamide therapy for lupus nephritis.

We describe the case of a 19-year-old woman who died of overwhelming aspergillosis 3 months after receiving intravenous (IV) cyclophosphamide for progressive lupus nephritis. Her history is instructive because it illustrates the wisdom of strict adherence to the National Institutes of Health protocol for this treatment, specifically, the contraindication to use of IV cyclophosphamide when other immunosuppressive therapy has recently been employed.     

Maintenance therapies for proliferative lupus nephritis: mycophenolate mofetil, azathioprine and intravenous cyclophosphamide

For the treatment of proliferative lupus nephritis, long-term cyclophosphamide (CY) regimens are efficacious, however, at the expense of substantial toxicity. In the last decade, sequential regimens of short-term CY induction followed by either mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) or azathioprine (AZA) maintenance have shown to be efficacious and safe reducing the long-term exposure to CY. In a maintenance study including predominantly Hispanics and African-Americans, the patients who received MMF and AZA maintenance had a higher cumulative probability of remaining free of the composite of death or chronic renal failure (CRF) compared to quarterly intravenous CY (IVCY) maintenance (89% in MMF, 80%, in AZA and 45% in IVCY). Likewise, MMF and AZA maintenance were associated with significantly lower incidence of severe infections (2% in each MMF or AZA, and 25% in IVCY), sustained amenorrhea (6% in MMF, 8% in AZA, and 32% in IVCY), and hospitalizations (one hospital-days per patient-year in each MMF or AZA, and 10 in IVCY). In a European induction study including predominantly Caucasians, patients who received any of two sequential regimens, low dose versus high dose IVCY induction both followed by AZA maintenance, had a high cumulative probability of remaining free of treatment failure (84% in low dose IVCY and 80% in high dose IVCY; treatment failure defined as a composite of free of corticosteroid resistant flare, nephrotic syndrome, doubling creatinine, and persistent elevated creatinine). Low dose IVCY and high dose IVCY induction were associated with low incidence of sustained amenorrhea (4% in each group) and severe infections (11% in low dose and 22% in high dose IVCY induction). Of interest, most of the severe infection episodes occurred while patients were receiving IVCY induction. Finally an Asian study demonstrated that patients with proliferative lupus nephritis could be effectively treated with short-term oral CY induction followed by AZA maintenance. The cumulative probability of complete remission was 76%. The relapse rate was only 11%. The incidence of permanent amenorrhea and infection were 8% and 33%, respectively. None of the Asian patients had an increase in serum creatinine level to double the baseline value. Maintenance therapies with MMF or AZA following short-term CY induction in a sequential regimen are efficacious and safe for the treatment of high-risk patients with proliferative lupus nephritis.     

Assessment on intermittent intravenous cyclophosphamide pulse therapy in diffuse proliferative lupus nephritis]

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether intravenous cyclophosphamide pulse therapy (IVCY) is effective for treating patients with diffuse proliferative lupus nephritis (DPLN) who were 1) refractory to methylprednisolone pulse therapy (MP) or 2) could not be treated with MP because of severe diabetes or steroid induced psychosis. METHODS: Seven patients with biopsy proven DPLN were studied after informed consent. Five of them received IVCY after a failure to achieve renal remission with at least 2 cycles of MP therapy. Of the other 2 patients, one had severe diabetes and the other a history of steroid induced psychosis. Bolus therapy with cyclophosphamide (0.5 g/m2 body surface area) was given once a month for 6 consecutive months and then once every 3 months for a total treatment period of 1 year. All patients were given oral prednisone, 0.5 mg/kg per day. The prednisone dose was tapered to the minimal dose required for controlling the disease. After 1 year, the renal status of the patients were evaluated. RESULTS: At 1 year, 4 of the 7 patients achieved substantial improvement. Although the other 3 patients did not satisfy the definition of substantial improvement, none of them had progressive disease. Adverse events were mild and did not require any treatment, with 2 cases of leukocytopenia without fever or major infection. No cases of hemorrhagic cystitis or amenorrhea were observed. CONCLUSIONS: IVCY was 1) effective in the treatment of DPLN which was refractory to MP and 2) relatively safe with minimal side effects.     

普乐可复与环磷酰胺诱导治疗Ⅳ型狼疮性肾炎的疗效比较

目的:比较观察口服普乐可复(FK506)与环磷酰胺静脉冲击(IVC)联合激素诱导治疗Ⅳ型狼疮性肾炎(LN)的疗效及安全性,探讨FK506合适的治疗剂量与血药浓度范围。方法:经肾活检诊断为Ⅳ-G型(2003年ISN/RPS分类)活动性、女性LN患者34例,平均年龄(27·1±9·9)岁,尿蛋白定量≥2·0g/d,血清白蛋白<3·0g/dl,随机分为FK506组[n=17,起始剂量0·1mg/(k·/d)]和IVC组(n=17,0·5~1·0g/m2BSA,1/月×6月),同时口服泼尼松(0·6mg/kg·d),其中22例患者接受甲基泼尼松龙静脉冲击治疗。主要评价指标为治疗6个月完全缓解率(CR,定义为尿蛋白定量<0·4g/24h,尿红细胞正常范围,无管型尿及白细胞尿,血清白蛋白≥3·5g/dl,SCr正常或上升不超过正常范围15%,无肾外狼疮活动),次要观察指标为治疗6个月部分缓解(PR)率和有效率(CR+PR)。结果:(1)临床疗效:治疗6个月FK506组和IVC组的有效率分别为94·1%和82·4%,FK506组有11例患者获得CR(11/17,64·7%),高于IVC组(7/17,41·2%)(P=0·303);FK506组出现PR的时间明显短于IVC组[(1·9±1·2)月vs(3·2±1·8)月,P=0·034],而两组获得CR的时间分别为(4·0±1·3)月和(5·0±1·2)月;两组患者SLE-DAI、尿蛋白水平、血尿、血清白蛋白、补体C3、C4水平及A-dsDNA阳性率较治疗前均有显著改善;(2)FK506的剂量和浓度:FK506的剂量平均为0·08~0·09mg/(kg·d),血药浓度为5·7~7·1ng/ml;获得CR的患者血药浓度平均为(8·1±3·9)ng/ml,PR的患者为(5·2±2·7)ng/ml,其中3例血药浓度低于5ng/ml的患者亦获得CR;(3)不良反应:FK506组肝酶升高、感染等发生率低于IVC组,未见白细胞减少、月经紊乱,而短暂SCr升高、高血压、高血糖、脱发等并发症高于IVC组,但无统计学差异。结论:FK506是诱导治疗Ⅳ型LN的一种有效的免疫抑制剂,起效快,不良反应较小。     

Outcomes in patients with active lupus nephritis requiring immunosuppressives who never received cyclophosphamide

OBJECTIVE: To assess outcomes in patients with lupus nephritis treated with immunosuppressives compared to those treated with cyclophosphamide in a cohort study and in a matched cohort study. METHODS: Patients with active renal disease treated with immunosuppressive/cytotoxic medications were selected from the University of Toronto Lupus Clinic database. Five outcomes were evaluated: all-cause mortality, renal failure, reversal of active renal disease, relapse of active renal disease, and toxicity. RESULTS: There were no differences in the outcomes of death, renal failure, reversal or relapse of active renal disease, or toxicity in those using or not using cyclophosphamide. CONCLUSION: Antimetabolites should be considered standard of care for patients with lupus nephritis both for induction and for maintenance therapy.     

Sequential evaluation of clinical and laboratory changes amongst children suffering from lupus nephritis during intermittent intravenous cyclophosphamide therapy

We prospectively evaluated the efficacy and safety of a 24-month course of intermittent intravenous cyclophosphamide (IC) therapy for children suffering from lupus nephritis soon after the diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) was made. Eight children with severe lupus nephritis were treated with IC monthly for 6 months and then every 3 months, totaling 24 months. The repeated measurements of sequential serological parameters of lupus nephritis, monitored over the course of the study, were analyzed statistically. The urine creatinine clearance rate (Ccr), the 24-h urine protein excretion, and the serum creatinine level significantly improved (p<0.05) after 6, 9 and 12 months of treatment, respectively. The serum C3, C4, albumin, and triglyceride level, the hemoglobin level, and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate significantly improved (p<0.05) 1 month after treatment. The IC appeared to elicit a significant effect (p<0.05) upon the mean leukocyte and neutrophil counts but had no effect (p>0.05) on the platelet count. The lymphocyte count decreased (p<0.05) during the first six monthly IC, whereas the lymphocyte count returned to the baseline level during the quarterly IC events. From a total of 96 IC doses given to those SLE patients, severe myelotoxicity occurred in one patient when lymphocyte count declined to 98 mm^-3; however, no sign of clinical infection was observed. The daily steroid dosage can be tapered rapidly, and the SLE-associated hyperlipidemia resolved parallel to the resolution of the acute lupus nephritis. We concluded that the efficacy of a 24-month IC course for a child suffering from lupus nephritis is significant.     

Pharmacogenetics of cyclophosphamide and CYP2C19 polymorphism in Thai systemic lupus erythematosus

To assess whether the CYP2C19 polymorphism modified the effect of cyclophosphamide on ovarian toxicity in Thai patients with SLE. We performed a case–control study of female patients with SLE who were treated with cyclophosphamide at Ramathibodi Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand. Cases were patient who had ovarian toxicity (sustained amenorrhoea >12 months or lack of menstruation for >4 months). CYP2C19 polymorphism was genotyped using PCR–RFLP method. Logistic regression was applied to assess CYP2C19 polymorphism as an effect modifier of cyclophosphamide. Seventy-one patients with SLE were enrolled, of which 36 (59.7%) had ovarian toxicity. CYP2C19*2 allele frequencies were 27.8 and 21.4% in the ovarian and non-ovarian toxicity groups. Patients with CYP2C19*1/*1 genotype and higher cumulative dose of cyclophosphamide (>23.75 g) had the highest odds of ovarian toxicity, i.e. 11.0 (95% CI: 1.2–99.1) times higher than patients with the CYP2C19*1/*2 or *2/*2 genotypes who received less cyclophosphamide (<23.75 g). After adjusting for age at start of treatment, this risk increased to 13.6 (95% CI: 1.1–162.2). Our results suggest that a cumulative cyclophosphamide dose of 23.75 g or higher carries a twofold higher risk of ovarian toxicity and the CYP2C19*1/*1 genotype increases the risk of toxicity a further fivefold.