However, corticosteroids are not recommended for treatment of rash, joint pain or renal disease alone. The illness lasts four to six weeks in most patients. One half of patients have a reccurrence. The renal disease may not arise for several years. Renal biopsy may be performed to establish the diagnosis and determine the prognosis.
Prognosis overall is excellent.
The primary long-term complication is renal disease, which develops in 5 percent of patients. One study suggests that corticosteroids and azathioprine may be helpful in treating renal disease once it develops. Pharmacologic treatments are controversial, and more research needs to be done to clarify therapeutic regimens. She graduated from the University of Nevada School of Medicine and completed a residency in family practice there. After graduating from the University of Nevada School of Medicine, Dr. Scott completed a residency in family practice at the University of California, Davis, School of Medicine.