Effects of leflunomide combined with hormone therapy for refractory IgA nephropathy / 南方医科大学学报

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effects and safety of leflunomide combined with hormone therapy for refractory IgA nephropathy.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirteen patients with refractory IgA nephropathy were treated with leflunomide and hormone therapy, and the clinical data were collected and evaluated before and in weeks 2, 4, 8, 12, 16, 20 and 24 during the treatment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Leflunomide therapy significantly improved proteinuria (Plt;0.001) and increased serum albumin in these patients (Plt;0.001) but caused no significant changes in serum creatinine (Pgt;0.05). Only mild tolerable adverse effects were observed.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Leflunomide combined with hormone therapy can be one of the safety and effective choices for treatment of refractory IgA nephropathy.</p>