Exploring Treatment Options

The decision to prescribe a medication is the responsibility of your physician/primary care provider based on his/her evaluation of your condition. The below is meant for informational purposes only. Discuss this information and all information about drugs/medications with your physician before starting OR stopping any medication.

Goals of treatment:

Short term

• Stop protein in urine (“repair” glomeruli)
• Normalize clinical symptoms (swelling, tiredness) and blood changes (plasma proteins, high cholesterol)

Long term

• Prevent recurrences of protein in urine
• Prevent  deterioration of kidney function

Treatment Information – find answers to frequently asked questions about the following:

• Prednisone
• Acthar
• Rituximab (rituxan)
• Cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan)
• Mycophenalate Mofetil (CellCept, Myfortic)
• ACE Inhibitors
• Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers (ARBs)
• Cyclosporine
• Tacrolimus (Prograf)
• Liposorber LA-15®
• Clinical Trials

The decision to change or stop current medication is usually based on the following:

• Complete remission – partial remission: proteinuria less than 3.5g
• Permanent
• Temporary
• Recurrence (relapse)
• Steroid-sensitive: patient experiences reduced protein loss in urine
• Steroid-dependent: patient experiences reduced protein loss in urine, but cannot go off the medication without relapsing
• No response
• Trial of other medications will begin
• Kidney function deterioration