ABSTRACT
ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical application of tacrulimus (TAC, FK506) in children with primary nephrotic syndrome (NS). MethodsSixty-five primary NS children received routine or decreased-dosage glucocorticosteroid according to clinical NS types after hospitalization. At the same time, TAC was given orally with the dosage of 0.1 to 0.15 mg/kg, once every 12 hours, for 6 to 24 months. And the serum concentration of TAC was monitored during the course. ResultsAfter the treatment of TAC for 1 to 2 months, 65 patients were recovered with gradually reduced urinary protein, rapidly increased serum albumin, and improvement of cholesterol and triglycerides. Total remission rate was 83.1% and onset time was 7 to 54 days. Twelve cases experienced recurrence. Increased CD4, as well as 3/3 or 3/1 TAC genotype, indicated higher remission rate. Various pathological types had different remission rates or ratio, which were as follows: minimal change nephropathy (96.4%), mesangial proliferative glomendonephritis (90.0%), membranous nephropathy (2/3), membranous proliferative glomerulonephritis (3/5), focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (4/9). The patients would recover in the course of treatment under the conditions of TAC initial dose as 0.1 to 0.15 mg /kg per 12 hours and controlled serum concentration as 5 to 10 g/L. During the treatment, 12 cases appeared gastrointestinal symptoms, mainly as anorexia, nausea and vomiting, 1 abdominal pain, 2 headache, 1 tremor, 1 paresthesia, 3 insomnia, 4 transient increased Scr, 8 slightly increased NAG, 6 increased C3 and α-2 macroglobulin. The symptoms disappeared within one week or after stopping TAC. ConclusionsTAC is effective in primary NS children, even with abnormal liver function or tuberculosis infection. TAC can also be a substitute to cyclosporine A.
ABSTRACT
Objective: To investigate the clinical treatment results of combined Tretinoin-chemotherapy protocol and kinetics of PML-RAR ? fusion gene in childhood acute promyelocytic leukemia(APL). Methods: Ten children with APL were involved in this study. Induction therapy was Tretinoin alone(6 cases),Tretinoin plus chemotherapy(3 cases) and arsenic trixode(1 case). Postremission therapy consisted of three consolidation courses with DA,MA or HA and a monthly maintenance therapy over 4-5 years. Monitoring of minimal residual disease was performed regularly by RT-PCR assay for PML-RAR ? at differential clinical stages. Results: Clinical complete remission(CR) was obtained in 9 cases (90%).After a median follow-up of 42 months(14-156 months), the estimated 5-year event-free survival was (56? 16.5)%.Four cases relapsed at 14-42 months after achieving CR and 5 cases remained continuing CR. PML-RAR ? fusion gene was positive in all cases at CR and turned negative gradually during consolidation and maintenance treatment. The duration of conversion to RT-PCR negative status varied from 6 to 42 months.Four patients who were persistent positive(2 cases) or converted to positive(2 cases) for PML-RAR ? relapsed. Conclusion: Continuous negative RT-PCR results are associated with long-term disease-free survival and may be considered as potentially curative. RT-PCR assay for detection of PML-RAR ?should be performed regularly during post-remission period. The hematological relapse could potentially be averted through treatment modification according to molecular monitoring results of PML-RAR ?.
ABSTRACT
Objectives: The aim of the study was to evaluate the therapeutic effects of 6-mercaptopurine in the treatment of refractory childhood nephrotic syndrome (NS). Methods: According to the varieties of NS, 6-mercaptopurine (2 mg/kg body weight daily) combined with corticosteroid or 6-mercaptopurine (2 mg/kg body weight daily) alone after tapering of steroids were given to 28 consecutive children with primary NS in our hospital. Results: One month after the use of 6-mercaptopurine, proteinuria was decreased. The duration of improvement was 9～28 days, with mean duration of 17 days. Over-all effective rate was 85.7%. Among different varieties of NS, the best therapeutic effect was noted in steroid-dependent children; the better therapeutic effect in steroid-resistant children; and good therapeutic effect in frequently relapsing children. The effective rates were 100%, 84.6%, 81.8% respectively. All the pathological varieties of 28 children were confirmed by renal biopsy. The better therapeutic effects were noted in slight mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis (MsPGN) and minimal change nephrotic syndrome (MCNS). The less therapeutic effect was noted in membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN). Their therapeutic effective rates were 92.9%, 80%, 66.7% respectively. Unfortunately, drug-induced aplastic anemia was seen in 2 cases. Slight gastrointestinal reactions were present in 6 cases. There were no side reaction on the gonad. Conclusions: The great difference in the therapeutic effects is related to the different pathologic varieties of NS. With regard to the treatment of refractory NS in children, the pathological varieties should be confirmed by renal biopsy as soon as possible. Based on the renal biopsy, 6-mercaptopurine can be considered in the treatment of MsPGN and MCNS. As a result, relapses could be reduced; the duration of remission could be prolonged, and the side reactions from steroid treatment could be avoided. The use of 6-mercaptopurine for the treatment of refractory NS is one of the effective therapy.