Eficacia y seguridad de tacrolimus contra ciclosporina en niños con sindromenefrotico esteroide resistente

	Am J Kidney Dis. 2009 May;53(5):760-9. Epub 2009 Mar 5.  Efficacy and safety of tacrolimus versus cyclosporine in children with steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome: a randomized controlled trial. Choudhry S, Bagga A, Hari P, Sharma S, Kalaivani M, Dinda A. Division of Nephrology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi, India. Abstract BACKGROUND: To examine whether tacrolimus is more effective and safe than cyclosporine (CsA) in inducing remission in patients with steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome (SRNS). STUDY DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial, nonblind, parallel group. SETTINGS & PARTICIPANTS: Tertiary-care hospital; 41 consecutive patients with idiopathic SRNS, estimated glomerular filtration rate greater than 60 mL/min/1.73 m(2), and histological characteristics showing minimal change disease, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, or mesangioproliferative glomerulonephritis were randomly assigned to treatment with tacrolimus (n = 21) or CsA (n = 20). INTERVENTION: Tacrolimus (0.1 to 0.2 mg/kg/d) or CsA (5 to 6 mg/kg/d) for 1 year; cotreatment with alternate-day prednisolone and enalapril. OUTCOMES: Patients achieving complete remission (urinary protein-creatinine ratio < 0.2 g/g and serum albumin > or = 2.5 g/dL) or partial remission (urinary protein-creatinine ratio, 0.2 to 2 g/g, and serum albumin > or =2.5 g/dL) at 6 and 12 months; time to remission; proportion with relapses; side effects. RESULTS: No patient was lost to follow-up. After 6 months of therapy, remission occurred in 18 (85.7%) and 16 patients (80%) treated with tacrolimus and CsA, respectively (relative risk [RR], 1.07; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.81 to 1.41). Rates of remission at 12 months were also similar (RR, 1.14; 95% CI, 0.84 to 1.55). The proportion of patients who experienced relapse was significantly greater in those receiving CsA compared with tacrolimus (RR, 4.5; 95% CI, 1.1 to 18.2; P = 0.01). The decrease in blood cholesterol levels was greater with tacrolimus compared with CsA (difference in mean values, 45.1 mg/dL; 95% CI, 19.1 to 71.2). Persistent nephrotoxicity necessitating stoppage of medicine was seen in 4.7% and 10% patients, respectively. Cosmetic side effects (hypertrichosis and gum hypertrophy) were significantly more frequent in CsA-treated patients (P < 0.001). LIMITATIONS: Single-center study, small sample size, and short duration of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Tacrolimus or CsA in combination with low-dose steroids show similar efficacy in inducing remission in patients with SRNS. Therapy with tacrolimus is a promising alternative to CsA in view of the lower risk of relapses and lack of cosmetic side effects.
	PMID: 19268410 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]