Long-term Treatment of Minimal-change Nephrotic Syndrome with Cyclosporin: A Control Biopsy Study

Seven patients with minimal-change nephrotic syndrome confirmedby renal biopsy were treated with cyclosporin (CsA). Four patientshad frequent relapses and three others had primary steroid resistantnephrotic syndrome. Corticosteroids were discontinued as soonas CsA whole blood trough values of 200–500 ng/ml (RIAmethod) were reached. A full remission, defined as completedisappearance of proteinuria, was achieved in five patientsunder this treatment. In the two other patients proteinuriawas reduced. Two patients experienced an acute episode of dose-dependentnephrotoxicity; however, overall renal function, as determinedby the creatinine clearance, was stable. Control biopsies infive patients after a mean treatment period of 10 months showedno significant vascular or interstitial toxicity.