Recovery from cyclosporine-associated arteriolopathy in childhood nephrotic syndrome

Byline: Kiyoshi Hamahira (1), K. Iijima (1), Ryojiro Tanaka (1), Hajime Nakamura (1), Norishige Yoshikawa (2) Keywords: KeywordsCyclosporine; Arteriolopathy; Tubulointerstitial lesions; Focal glomerular lesions; Drug discontinuation Abstract: Cyclosporine (CS) is well recognized to be effective in the treatment of children with steroid-dependent and steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome (NS), but its use can result in chronic nephrotoxicity. The histological changes that occur after CS discontinuation are unknown. Therefore, we examined the histological changes [CS-associated arteriolopathy (CAA), tubulointerstitial lesions, and focal glomerular lesions] in renal biopsy specimens after the drug had been discontinued in eight children with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (NS). These children had been treated with long-term moderate-dose CS and had shown mild-to-moderate chronic CS nephrotoxicity. The degree of CAA improved significantly after CS discontinuation (mean CAA grade from 1.30+-0.46 to 0.25+-0.46, P=0.028). CAA disappeared in six of these children after CS discontinuation. However, the tubulointerstitial lesions and the focal glomerular lesions did not change after CS discontinuation. In conclusion, in children with idiopathic NS, CAA is improved by discontinuation of CS, but tubulointerstitial changes and focal glomerular lesions do not regress with drug discontinuation. Author Affiliation: (1) Department of Pediatrics, Kobe University School of Medicine, 5--2 Kusunoki-cho, 7 chome, Chuo-ku, Kobe, 650--0017 Japan. kidney@kobe-u.ac.jp, JP (2) Department of Pediatrics, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan, JP Article note: Received: 16 January 2001 / Revised: 26 April 2001 / Accepted: 27 April 2001