Mycophenolate Mofetil: A Possible Alternative Treatment for IgA Nephropathy.

Abstract

IgA nephropathy (IgAN) is the most common primary glomerulonephritis in developed countries and a leading cause of chronic kidney disease. IgAN is a mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis characterized by diffuse mesangial deposition of IgA, often accompanied by the deposition of IgG and the C3 component of complement in a similar distribution. This condition is in most cases oligosymptomatic, often discovered coincidentally. Currently, there is no specific treatment available for IgAN and the use of immunosuppression therapy is debated. Due to immune-mediated pathogenic nature of IgAN, therapy with mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), a potent immunosuppressive agent, could be effective in patients at risk for progressive disease. In this paper, we discuss the case of an IgAN patient treated with MMF at our center, followed by a review of the literature and our previous experience on the potential renoprotective effects of MMF in IgAN patients with different clinical presentation, despite adequate angiotensin blockade and steroid therapy.

• Authors: Olga Baraldi, Giorgia Comai, Vania Cuna, Maria Cappuccilli, Carla Serra, Claudio Ronco, Gaetano La Manna
• Journal: Contributions to nephrology (Contrib Nephrol) Vol. 190 Pg. 108-116 ( 2017) ISSN: 1662-2782 [Electronic] Switzerland
• PMID: 28535523 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)
• Copyright: © 2017 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Chemical References

• Immunosuppressive Agents
• Mycophenolic Acid

Topics

• Adult
• Glomerulonephritis, IGA (drug therapy)
• Humans
• Immunosuppressive Agents (therapeutic use)
• Male
• Mycophenolic Acid (therapeutic use)
• Proteinuria (drug therapy)
• Treatment Outcome