[Cyclosporin therapy in minimal change nephritis]

In 5 cases with minimal change nephritis Cyclosporine A has been added to the conventional steroid therapy, when relapse of nephrotic syndrome occurred while reducing the daily prednisolone dose. The intended cyclosporine trough level ranged from 250 ng/ml to 450 ng/ml whole blood, estimated by the RIA method. Proteinuria disappeared in 4 out of the 5 cases, in the other one urinary protein excretion was strikingly reduced. In the 4 cases with complete remission of proteinuria prednisolone was tapered. These patients have cyclosporine A as the sole immunosuppressive drug since 56 weeks and do not show proteinuria. Side effects of cyclosporine therapy have been slight deterioration of kidney function in 2 out of the 5 cases and the occurrence of hypertension in 4 patients.