Effect of acetylsalicylic acid and dipyridamole in primary membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis type I

Primary membranoproliferativeglomerulonephritis (MPGN) has a poor long-termprognosis, with 40 per cent of patientsreaching end-stage renal failure after 10 yearsof observation. Approximately 35 per cent ofpatients die due to complications of thenephrotic syndrome. This study investigates theeffect of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) combinedwith dipyridamole on proteinuria and renalfunction in nephrotic MPGN patients withnormal/moderately reduced glomerular filtration rate(GFR). Fourteen patients with biopsy-proventype I MPGN received ASA (1000 mg/day) anddipyridamole (300 mg/day) for 24 months.Proteinuria was reduced from 6.8 ± 2.4 g/dayto 1.1 ± 0.6 g/day (p < 0.001). Serumalbumin levels increased from 2.2 ± 0.5 g/dLto 3.7 ± 0.4 g/dL (p < 0.001) duringthe study period after 24 months compared tobaseline. Serum creatinine and GFR did notsignificantly change in patients treated withacetylsaliclylic acid and dipyridamole duringthe observation period (p < 0.05). Ourstudy suggests that ASA combined withdipyridamole significantly reduces proteinuria without impairing renal function in patientswith MPGN.