[Value of soluble urokinase receptor serum levels in the differential diagnosis between idiopathic and secondary focal segmental glomerulosclerosis].

Background: It has been reported that the circulating level of the soluble urokinase receptor (suPAR) could be useful for distinguishing idiopathic from secondary focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, but the results published are conflicting. In this study, we analyse the intraindividual variability and clinical and anatomopathological variables associated with the suPAR levels and if circulating suPAR levels allow the different forms of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) to be distinguished, i.e.

[Diagnostic value of soluble urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor serum levels in adults with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome].

Introduction: Recent studies suggest that soluble urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) levels could be useful for distinguishing idiopathic focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) from other glomerulopathies that cause nephrotic syndrome, but these data have not been confirmed in independent studies. The objective of our study is to analyse whether circulating levels of suPAR are useful for identifying primary kidney disease in patients with nephrotic syndrome secondary to FSGS, minimal change disease or idiopathic membranous nephropathy (MN).

Methods: We measured circulating suPAR at diagnosis in 60 patients with nephrotic syndrome secondary to FSGS, minimal change disease (MCD) and membranous nephropathy (MN).

Combined therapy of tacrolimus and corticosteroids in cyclosporin-resistant or -dependent idiopathic focal glomerulosclerosis: a preliminary uncontrolled study with prospective follow-up.

Background: Cyclosporin has improved the outcome for steroid-resistant patients with focal glomerulosclerosis, but there is a proportion of patients that are either cyclosporin-resistant or suffer relapses, needing long-term therapy to sustain the remission. In these cases, preliminary reports suggest that tacrolimus could be an alternative therapy, but to date the evidence is limited to small series of patients with no long-term follow-up.

Methods: In this study we analysed the efficacy and safety of a combined therapy of tacrolimus and steroids in 25 patients (mean serum creatinine= 1.