Proliferation signal inhibitors in the treatment of lupus nephritis: preliminary experience.

AIM: Proliferation signal inhibitors (PSI) have demonstrated efficacy in prevention and treatment in an animal model of lupus nephritis (LN) but there are no data regarding the use of PSI in human LN. We report here our experience of using PSI treatment in seven patients with severe proliferative lupus nephritis. METHODS: This is a retrospective study on patients with proliferative lupus nephritis who had received PSI treatment. RESULTS: Seven patients were included. Two patients had concomitant membranous lupus nephropathy. The indications for PSI included mycophenolate mofetil intolerance (n = 4), history of malignancy (n = 2) and leucopoenia (n = 1). Five patients were given PSI when disease was active. Two had treatment discontinued because of acute cholecystitis and leucopoenia, respectively. In the other three patients combined steroid and PSI treatment as induction therapy led to improvements in serology, renal function and proteinuria. In two patients treated with PSI and low-dose steroid as maintenance immunosuppression, both maintained stable lupus serology, renal function and proteinuria over 18 months. Side-effects included dyslipidemia and oral ulcers. CONCLUSION: Proliferation signal inhibitors warrants further investigation as an alternative immunosuppressive treatment in lupus nephritis.