Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology of Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma of the Salivary Gland / 대한세포병리학회지

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: There is no specific treatment guidelines for Henoch-Schonlein (HS) nephritis. Therefore we performed this study to observe the effect of long term steroid therapy combined with azathioprine METHODS: Treatment protocols; 1) Steroid pulse therapy methylprednisolon 30 mg/kg/dose, maximum 1 gm, intravenously 6 times for alternate day. 2) Oral steroid was given 2 mg/kg/day for 1 month, 1 mg/kg/day for following I month and alternate day oral steroid combined with azathioprine 2 mg/kg/day for 2 years. RESULTS: Time period from HSP to onset of HS nephritis was between 2 weeks to 5 months with mean 7.4+/-7.4 weeks. Clinical remission were seen in 4 cases out of 5 (80%). Mean time period with disappearance of proteinuria and microscopic hematuria were 5+/-2.4 month and 13.3+/-2.9 month respectively. On pathologic findings by ISKDC, 3 cases were grade IIIb, 2 cases were grade IV in first kidney biopsies and showed pathologic improvement in follow up kidney biopsies after 2 years treatment. CONCLUSION: As there no definitive treatment for HS nephritis so far, our study of long term oral steroid therapy with azathioprine was effective in clinical and histologic aspect. Therefore further study in HS nephritis with in a large group will be needed in the future.