| Abstract: | In 15 patients with essential mixed cryoglobulinemia, 24 exacerbations of renal disease, characterized by an increase in plasma creatinine (13 episodes) and/or proteinuria (18 episodes), were treated by 3 intravenous pulses of methylprednisolone (1 g each), followed by oral prednisone (0.5 mg/kg/day). Plasma creatinine levels fell within a week (P less than 0.025), while a significant decrease in urinary protein excretion was observed only after one month (P less than 0.05). After therapy, plasma creatinine levels remained stable in 8/10 patients for 3 to 60 months. These beneficial results suggest that MP pulses may be useful in the treatment of cryoglobulinemic nephropathy. |
