Big study answers treatment question for little known kidney condition (4 mg methylprednisolone a day “significantly reduced the risk” from Berger's disease)

Medical Xpress / George Institute for Global Health / JAMA ^ | May 17, 2022 | Professor Vlado Perkovic, et al

[ConservativeMind]

The largest trial in IgA nephropathy has found treatment with methylprednisolone—a cheap, widely used corticosteroid drug—halves the risk of losing kidney function and kidney failure, and that this can be effectively achieved with fewer side effects if a reduced dose is used.

IgA nephropathy, also known as Berger's disease, is an auto-immune condition in which a type of antibody produced by the body to fight infection forms deposits in the kidney leading to inflammation and scarring, and progressing to cause kidney failure in many people.

Professor Vlado Perkovic said that around 10-30 percent of people with the condition go on to develop kidney failure that requires dialysis or kidney transplantation to prevent death.

503 patients l were recruited. They were randomly assigned to one of two groups:

- full dose of 0.6-0.8mg/kg per day of methylprednisolone or placebo for 2 months reducing by 8mg per day each month, or

- reduced dose of 0.4mg/kg per day of methylprednisolone or placebo, also for two months, reducing to 4mg per day each month.

"We found that that treatment with methylprednisolone for six to nine months significantly reduced the risk of losing substantial kidney function, kidney failure requiring dialysis or transplantation, or death from kidney disease compared to placebo," said Professor Perkovic.

"However, there was an increase in serious adverse events in those who received methylprednisolone, mainly seen in the full dose regimen with fewer in the reduced dose treatment group."

"A well-known side effect of steroid treatment is an increased risk of infections, but we found that this could be mitigated to a degree by using the lower dose and giving the patients antibiotics to prevent infections," she said.

"This is the strongest evidence yet for the benefit of any treatment for the prevention of kidney failure in people with IgA nephropathy.

[ConservativeMind]

There may be other options to get back some kidney function, through antioxidant use, as has been previously posted.

Still, this is a great option to have, over losing all kidney function.

[ConservativeMind]

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[Bob434]

my level was 32, and i went on a ‘partial elemental diet’ where i had nothign but a ‘food drink’ basically- with predigested proteins and such in it, for 2 months- the next time i was tested- i was 38- but a year later- i am back down to 33- i don’t know if the diet was what helped or not- or if it fluctuates some or not- but it might have- it’s a tough diet though-

[ConservativeMind]

Take a look at information embedded in these threads:

Grape seed powder improves renal failure of chronic kidney disease patients (Two grams of grape seed powder (not extract) daily for six months made eGFR improve 18.7% for Stage 2, 3, and 4 sufferers)

https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/4050267/posts

Can correcting micronutrient deficiencies help treat heart failure? (Yes: Iron, selenium, zinc, copper, and Co-Q10)

https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/4037020/posts

I think you can do a lot better than you have.

[ConservativeMind]

This might be a better search:

https://freerepublic.com/tag/egfr/index?tab=articles

There’s a lot of opportunity to better your eGFR in those threads.

[Bob434]

yeah i wasn’t trying to improve kidney function, i just figured once it’s down, it remains down- I had done the elemental diet for another reason- didn’t know there were things that could help- thanks for the info- I’ll check them out-

[ByteMercenary]

“... methylprednisolone—a cheap, widely used corticosteroid drug ...”

Now that a more universal use for it has been found, it won’t be cheap for long. Or worse the folks that attacked hydroxychloroquine now have a new target. After all, we can’t just go around finding new uses for drugs that work well but the patents are now expired and Big Pharma isn’t making any money on it.

[Twotone]

My husband’s nephew has this condition. He’s been doing well with at-home dialysis & a controlled diet, but has been told that a transplant is inevitable. Maybe not...