[Possibilities for treating patients with the idiopathic nephrotic syndrome]

The results from the treatment of 29 patients with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome are reported: 6--with glomerulonephritis with minimum alterations, 12--with diffuse mesangioproliferative glomerulonephritis and II--with focal and segmental glomerular sclerosis and hyalinosis. Corticosteroids, alone and in case they fail to help, in combination with cyclophosphamide were administered to patients with glomerulonephritis with minimum alterations. The rest of the patients were treated with a combination of anticoagulants (heparin and acenocoumarol), immune-suppressors (azathioprin) and corticosteroids. "Pulse" treatment with 300 mg methylprednisolon intravenously was carried out in single patients. Complete clinical-laboratory remission was attained in 5 out of 6 patients with glomerulonephritis with minimum alterations and in 7 out of 12 patients with diffuse mesangioproliferative glomerulonephritis. No effect was attained in any of the patients with focal and segmental glomerular sclerosis and hyalinosis. With repeated renal biopsy, a transition from glomerulonephritis with minimum alterations and from diffuse mesangioproliferative glomerulonephritis to focal and segmental glomerular sclerosis and hyalinosis was observed.