[Cyclosporin A treatment of adult patients with severe nephrotic syndrome].

This investigation is an assessment of the cyclosporin A-prednisone treatment which has been employed in all cases of therapy-resistant nephrotic syndrome in adults (n = 18) since January 1985 at the Department of Nephrology at the State University Hospital. Following an average duration of treatment of 20.7 months, five patients were in complete and eight in partial remission. All of the patients with minimal change disease (three patients) achieved complete remission. Recurrence after withdrawal of cyclosporin A occurred in three out of five patients. Cyclosporin A was withdrawn in five patients on account of suspected cyclosporin A nephrotoxicity. Hypertension, which was slight to moderate in the majority of cases, occurred frequently during treatment. Compared with the prognosis and frequency of complications in the untreated nephrotic syndrome and the frequency of side effects with the previously administered immunosuppressive treatment, the frequency of side effects with cyclosporin A treatment was acceptable. Until the indications are elucidated, adult patients with otherwise intractable nephrotic syndrome should be referred to special nephrological departments for possible cyclosporin A treatment.