Tacrolimus Versus Intravenous Pulse Cyclophosphamide Therapy in Chinese Adults With Steroid-Resistant Idiopathic Minimal Change Nephropathy: A Multicenter, Open-Label, Nonrandomized Cohort Trial

Abstract Background The treatment of steroid-resistant minimal change nephropathy (SR-MCN) in adults remains a challenge to nephrologists. Although immunosuppressants such as cyclophosphamide (CTX), chlorambucil, and cyclosporin A have been used in these patients, their use has been limited by low remission rates and severe adverse effects. Alternative immunosuppressive treatments for SR-MCN are therefore needed. Objective The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of tacrolimus (TAC) with that of intravenous (IV) pulse CTX therapy in the management of SR-MCN and to assess the tolerability of those treatments. Methods This was a nonrandomized, case-matched trial in Chinese adults with SR-MCN. Patients were self-assigned to either: (1) combination therapy with prednisone and oral TAC; or (2) combination therapy with prednisone and IV CTX. TAC was initiated at 0.05 mg/kg/d and was adjusted to maintain a trough blood level of 5 to 10 ng/mL for 1 year. CTX was initiated at 1 g/1.73 m 2 for a total dosage of 10 g/1.73 m 2 over 1 year. In both groups, oral prednisone was initiated at 0.5 mg/kg/d for 3 months but was tapered off to complete cessation by 6 months. Results A total of 37 patients were enrolled (21 in the TAC group; 16 in the CTX group), of whom 33 (19 in the TAC group; 14 in the CTX group) completed the study. There were no significant difference in baseline demographic characteristics between the two treatment groups (The TAC group-mean age at onset, 28.8 [11.3]; mean age at trial, 29.6 [11.0]; male, 63.16%; The CTX group-mean age at onset, 34.4 [12.7]; mean age at trial, 35.9 [12.7]; male, 57.14%). The remission rates were 57.9%, 73.7%, and 78.9% in the TAC group and 14.3%, 42.9%, and 50.0% in the CTX group after 2, 4, and 6 months, respectively. The remission rate at 2 months was significantly higher in the TAC group than in the CTX group ( P P P P = 0.35). Conclusions These findings suggest that TAC therapy was effective compared with IV pulse CTX therapy in treating this select group of Chinese adults with SR-MCN. Both agents were well tolerated although TAC seemed to induce remission more rapidly than IV pulse CTX therapy. Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry: study number ACTR 00362050.