ABSTRACT
The prognosis of SLE is influenced by the onset of glomerulonephritis. Clinical trials in lupus nephritis have demonstrated that cyclophosphamide therapy is the superior regimen in the management of lupus nephritis for preserving renal function. The purpose of this study is to define the outcome of renal function with bolus pulses of cyclophosphamide and steroid according to our protocol and also to determine an appropriate pattern of treatment of lupus nephritis. In this open-label clinical trial, to evaluate the results, the short-term prognosis and the rate of complications of an immunosuppressive regimen with corticosteroids and cyclophosphamide; twenty-five patients with biopsy-proven lupus nephritis were studied. Treatment was structured in 4 phases: 1] Induction with bolus methylprednisolone and cyclophosphamide. 2] Maintenance with oral prednisolone for 4 weeks and monthly cyclophosphamide pulses for 6 months. 3] Tapering with reduction of prednisolone by 10% each month and continuing cyclophosphamide every other month till one year and for the second year every 3 months. 4] Discontinuation with oral prednisolone slowly tapered to the least effective daily dose and cyclophosphamide discontinued after 2 yr of therapy. We defined primary outcome measures according to these criteria: renal function return to normal limits or become stable, regression of systemic and local inflammatory symptoms, urine protein excretion falling below 0.3 gr/ dL or by at least 50%, RBC cast disappearance, C3, C4, Hb, and ESR return to normal limits.Twenty-three patients with lupus nephritis completed our therapeutic protocol. Renal biopsy was performed in 22 cases and indicated type IV in 20 patients [95.2%], and type V in 2 patients. After an average of 4+1.95 months 22 patients achieved remission [95.65%] and only one case remained non-responsive. She became pregnant in her fourth month of therapy. Significant statistical differences were achieved between creatinine, proteinuria, hematuria, leukocyturia, urinary cast, C3, C4, ESR, and Hb before and after therapy [p<0.05]. Plasma creatinine fell from 1.44+0.95 mg/dL to 0.97+0.78 [p<0.004]. Proteinuria fell from 1879.78+1854.46 to 408.34+572.92 mg/24h [p<0.001]. Thirteen episode of relapses were treated again with repeated cycles of Cyclophosphamide and all remitted again.Intensive immunosuppression with steroid and Cyclophosphamide provides excellent results with an acceptable rate of complications in the treatment of lupus nephritis
ABSTRACT
In this article a rare case of mucormycosis and plasma cell granuloma in a diabetic female is presented. Mucormycosis is a rare fungal infection almost always limited to diabetic and immunocompromised hosts. It preferentially localizes in the nose [from which it may spread to the sinuses and brain], lungs, and gastrointestinal tract. The term plasma cell granuloma is used in preference to histiocytoma of the lung which was previously used to describe these lung tumors. They are now usually regarded as post-inflammatory granulomas. Control of the underlying diabetes mellitus, pulmonary lobectomy and intravenous amphotericin B administration following surgery comprised our therapeutic measures. Despite several reports regarding the poor prognosis following appropriate management, it is our belief that such a therapeutic plan is beneficial and effective. From the pathologic point of view it is interesting to have these two entities [mucormycosis and plasma cell granuloma] in association with each other