REVIEW OF THE CYCLOSPORINE TREATMENT IN G LOMERULONEPHRITIS - REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE AND OWN EXPERIENCES

There are no controlled and randomized studies of ciclosporin treatmen t in patients with glomerulonephritis. After reviewing the reports on more than 800 patients published in more than 40 different contributio ns one might summarize: 1. Ciclosporin treatment in steroid dependent nephrotic syndrome leads to a higher rate of complete remissions (70-8 0%) than compared to steroidresistant cases (20-30). 2. In minimal cha nge nephritis 60-70% of the patients response to treatment whereas in focal segmental glomerulosclerosis only 20-30% show a remission of the nephrotic syndrome. 3. Experience with ciclosporin in the treatment o f the other forms of primary and secondary glomerulonephritis is to sm all to give a final statement. 4. Recurrence of nephrotic syndrome aft er withdrawal of ciclosporin is frequent.