[Effects of steroid therapy on membranous nephropathy].

Background: Although membranous nephropathy is a common cause of nephrotic syndrome in adults, its treatment remains under debate.

Methods: To clarify the effects of steroid therapy, the data of 51 Japanese adult patients with idiopathic membranous nephropathy who received treatment at our department were analyzed retrospectively. We divided the patients with nephrotic syndrome and a serum creatinine level <1.7 mg/dL, into two groups: the steroid therapy group (n=20) and the non-steroid therapy group (n=7), and compared the clinical characteristics between the two groups.

Results: Significantly decreased proteinuria levels (p<0.05) after 2 and 5 years were observed in the steroid therapy group as compared to the non-steroid therapy group. There was no significant difference in the serum creatinine levels after 2 and 5 years between the steroid therapy group and the non-steroid therapy group.

Conclusion: Steroid therapy in idiopathic membranous nephropathy showed good efficacy in patients with nephrotic syndrome.