Assessment of mycophenolate mofetil for treatment of frequently relapsing nephrotic syndrome in children.

Objective: To investigate the efficacy and adverse effect of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) in the treatment of frequently relapsing nephrotic syndrome in children.

Methods: The study population consisted of 37 children (24 simple nephrotic syndrome and 13 nephritis-type syndrome) suffering from frequently relapsing nephrotic syndrome. Patients received 20-30 mg/(kg d) of MMF in conjunction with 1 mg/(kg d) prednisone for 3-6 months.

Results: Out of 24 patients suffered from simple nephrotic syndrome, 17 patients (70.8%) with complete relief, 4 patients (16.7%) with partial relief and 3 patients (12.5%) with non-relief, whereas out of 13 patients suffered from nephritis-type syndrome 6 patients (46.2%) with complete relief, 3 patients (23.1%) with partial relief and 4 patients (30.7%) with non-relief. Eight patients with Minimal Change Disease (MCD) achieved complete relief. Of 23 patients with Mesangial Proliferative Glomerulonephritis (MsPGN) or Membranoproliferative Glomerulonephritis (MPGN), complete relief was observed in 17 patients (73.9%), partial relief in 4 patients (17.4%) and non-relief in 2 patients.

Conclusion: These Results suggest that MMF has better efficacy against simple renal disease than against nephritis-type syndrome, and MMF may be more suitable for the treatment of frequently relapsing nephrotic syndrome characterized by proliferative lesions.