[Monthly intravenous cyclophosphamide in the treatment of lupus nephritis]

21 patients with severe active lupus nephritis (LN) were treated with intravenous cyclophosphamide monthly doses 0.75 g/m2. The effects were compared with the results obtained in 22 patients by the oral prednisone administration in the dose 1 mg/kg/day. Both groups were not significantly different as regards the initial intensity of the LN symptoms. Complete or partial remission occurred in 17 patients (80.9%) receiving intravenous cyclophosphamide. End-stage renal failure in 2 patients and moderate renal insufficiency in other 2 patients from that group. In the prednisone treated group complete or partial remission was observed in 13 subjects (59.1%). The significant deterioration of the renal function occurred in 9 patients, in 6 into the phase of a moderate renal insufficiency and in 3 patients to the end-stage kidney failure. Additionally, the significant increase of the total serum complement activity and of the plasma platelets count was observed in the cyclophosphamide group, whereas those indicators did not improve in the patients receiving prednisone. The of intravenous pulse cyclophosphamide exhibits an advantage in the treatment of severe proliferative LN.