Methylprednisolone plus Chlorambucil as Compared with Methylprednisolone Alone for the Treatment of Idiopathic Membranous Nephropathy

Abstract
Treatment with methylprednisolone and chlorambucil may protect renal function and increase the chance of remission of the nephrotic syndrome in patients with idiopathic membranous nephropathy. To determine whether similar results might be obtained with methylprednisolone alone, we compared the effects of methylprednisolone and chlorambucil with those of methylprednisolone alone in 92 patients with the nephrotic syndrome caused by idiopathic membranous nephropathy. The patients were randomly assigned to receive either alternating one-month courses of methylprednisolone and then chlorambucil for a total of six months (group 1) or methylprednisolone alone for six months at the same cumulative dosage (group 2).