OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy and safety of @entity618 ( @entity2098 ) on treating refractory primary @entity1985 . METHODS: Forty-one @entity1 with refractory @entity1985 confirmed by renal biopsy, 19 with @entity75 (minimal lesion @entity8 and @entity631 ), 18 with @entity8 ( @entity8 ), 3 with @entity628 ( @entity628 ), and one with @entity631 ( @entity631 ), were treated by @entity2098 combined with @entity229 . The initial dosage of @entity2098 was 1.0 - 2.0 g/d for three months and then the dosage was tapered gradually. The duration of @entity2098 treatment was at least six months. @entity229 at the dose of 20 - 60 g/d was used at the beginning of the combined treatment and then the dosage was tapered gradually. Follow-up interview was conducted regularly. Four @entity1 were rebiopsyed by the end of observation. RESULTS: The combined treatment of @entity2098 / @entity229 decreased the urine protein and elevated the serum albumin significantly among @entity1 with @entity75 and @entity8 (P < 0.001). All @entity1 with @entity75 achieved clinical remission. Eleven of the nineteen cases responded within four weeks, and twelve of them obtained complete clinical remission. The dosage of @entity229 could be tapered smoothly among the @entity134 dependent @entity1 . Thirteen of the eighteen @entity1 with @entity8 achieved remission, however only six responded within four weeks and only three of them achieved complete clinical remission. During the treatment, four @entity1 experienced transient increase of urine protein due to @entity281 and recovered spontaneously without alteration of treatment. Side effects were tolerable except one case was withdrawn due to the decrease of hemoglobin. Renal function remained stable during the treatment. No obvious alteration could be found in renal biopsy by the end of treatment among four @entity1 . CONCLUSION: @entity2098 is an effective and safe immunosuppressive agent for refractory @entity1985 .

[ XXXX in the treatment of primary @entity1985 ].

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patients'] @entity8 :: ('MESH:D007674', 'Disease') :: ['nephropathy', 'membranous nephropathy', 'MN'] @entity75 :: ('MESH:D001927', 'Disease') :: ['minor lesion'] @entity229 :: ('MESH:D011241', 'Chemical') :: ['Prednisone', 'prednisone'] @entity628 :: ('MESH:D005923', 'Disease') :: ['FSGS', 'focal segmental glomerulosclerosis'] @entity134 :: ('CHEBI:35341', 'Chemical') :: ['steroid'] @entity2098 :: ('CHEBI:8764', 'Chemical') :: ['MMF'] @entity281 :: ('MESH:D007239', 'Disease') :: ['infection'] @entity618 :: ('MESH:C063008', 'Chemical') :: ['mycophenolate mofetil'] @entity1985 :: ('MESH:D009404', 'Disease') :: ['nephrotic syndrome'] @entity631 :: ('MESH:D005921', 'Disease') :: ['mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis', 'mesangioproliferative glomerulonephritis', 'MPGN']
@entity618 :: (MESH:C063008,Chemical) :: ['Mycophenolate mofetil']
