O. Hotta et al., LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF INTENSIVE THERAPY COMBINED WITH TONSILLECTOMY INPATIENTS WITH IGA NEPHROPATHY, Acta oto-laryngologica, 1996, pp. 165-168
IgA nephropathy (IgAN) is the most common form of glomerular disease i
n the world. However, there is currently no established therapy for Ig
AN. To assess treatment regimens for IgAN, we investigated a retrospec
tive long-term follow-up study comparing an intensive therapy with a c
onventional therapy. Clinical outcomes 5 years after the initiation of
treatment in two centers were compared. In one center, patients were
treated with tonsillectomy combined with steroid pulse, cyclophosphami
de, anti-platelet drugs and warfarin (intensive therapy group, Group A
, n = 50). In the other center, patients were treated with anti-platel
et drugs, warfarin or no treatment (conventional therapy group, Group
B, n = 50). At the beginning of treatment, the two groups were well ma
tched in terms of age, sex, blood pressure, urinalysis, and creatinine
clearance. Five years after the initiation of treatment, proteinuria
was remarkably reduced from 1.6 g/day to 0.5 g/day in Group A, whereas
no significant change in proteinuria was observed in Group B. Creatin
ine clearance significantly improved from 77.6 ml/min to 89.4 ml/min i
n Group A, whereas creatinine clearance deteriorated from 70.9 ml/min
to 62.5 ml/min during 5 years in Group B. Our results indicate that ea
rly intensive therapy for IgAN is potentially of great value, and warr
ants dose investigation.