Comparison of tacrolimus and mycophenolate mofetil in the treatment of refractory IgA nephropathy children

Abstract

Listen

Translate article

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of tacrolimus (TAC) and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) in children with refractory IgA nephropathy (IgAN). Methods The diagnosis of refractory IgAN was defined as urinary protein level ≥ 50 mg·kg-1·d-1 after treatment with renin-angiotensin system (RAS) blocker and prednisone. Following the case-control matching method, 76 children with renal biopsy diagnosed as refractory IgAN in the Jinling Hospital from January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2016 were retrospectively selected, and the children were divided into TAC group (38 cases) and MMF group (38 cases). The 24 h urinary protein quantity (24hUP), serum albumin (Alb), serum creatinine (Scr), serum uric acid (UA), serum glucose (Glu), adverse reactions and treatment effects were compared between the two groups. Results There were no significant differences in the age, sex ratio, blood pressure, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), 24hUP, urine red blood cell count (U-RBC), Scr, Alb, BUN, aspartate transarninase (AST), alanine transarninase (ALT), Glu, pathological Oxford classification, and the proportions of big-dose methylprednisolone treatment before using immunosuppressants between the two groups (all P>0.05), and they were comparable. From 3 months after treatment, the 24hUP levels of the two groups were significantly lower than those of the baseline (all P 0.05). The TAC group achieved the maximum effective rate at 6 months (94.7%), while the MMF group achieved the maximum effective rate at 12 months (68.4%), and the difference was statistically significant (χ2=8.756, P=0.003). The incidence of adverse reactions in two groups had not significant difference (15.8% vs 21.1%, χ2=0.350, P=0.554). However, the blood glucose of TAC group was higher than that of MMF group in the third month of treatment, and the difference was statistically significant [5.02(4.72, 5.22) mmol/L vs 4.42 (4.19, 5.07) mmol/L, Z=-2.745, P=0.006]. Conclusion Both TAC and MMF in the treatment of refractory IgAN result in a good treatment effect in children, but the TAC reaches the response level faster and the response rate is higher. Key words: Tacrolimus; Mycophenolic acid; Glomerulonephritis, IgA; Child