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| ORIGINAL ARTICLE |
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| Year : 2017 | Volume
: 12
| Issue : 2 | Page : 76-80 |
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Outcome of therapy in biopsy proven lupus nephritis with cyclophosphamide or mycophenolate: Registry data from a South Indian tertiary care center
Keerthi Talari1, Rajendra Varaprasad Irlapati1, Megha Uppin2, Liza Rajasekhar1
1 Department of Rheumatology, Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
2 Department of Pathology, Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
| Date of Web Publication | 27-Jan-2017 |
Correspondence Address:
Dr. Liza Rajasekhar
Department of Rheumatology, Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences, Punjagutta, Hyderabad, Telangana
India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/0973-3698.199126
Background: Cyclophosphamide and mycophenolate are the currently proposed first-line agents for induction in lupus nephritis (LN). In this study, we analysed the response rates with the three different induction regimens currently available for LN.
Methods: Patients with biopsy-proven LN with data available at least till completion of induction regimen was included. Data on demography, clinical, laboratory measures, disease activity, and treatment received at baseline, at the end of induction, and until the last follow-up were retrieved. Response at the end of induction was noted. Differences between groups were analyzed using Chi-square test.
Results: Eighty-three patients (75 females) with the mean age of 25 ± 8.9 years were included. The median duration of follow-up was 18 months (range: 6–153). Forty-one patients had Class IV, 19 Class III, 11 Class V, 7 Class III/IV + V, and 5 Class II LN. Forty received high-dose cyclophosphamide (HD CyC), 14 Euro-Lupus Nephritis Trial cyclophosphamide (ELNT CyC), 20 mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) for induction, while two received azathioprine, one cyclosporine, one modified ponticelli, and five with Class II nephritis received no induction. Baseline characteristics were comparable between three groups. The response rate was similar between the three groups: 30/40 in the HD CyC group, 12/14 in the ELNT CyC group, and 15/20 in the MMF group responded at the end of induction (P = 0.69). Complete response rate was higher in the individuals who received cyclophosphamide (HD CyC + ELNT CyC) as compared to MMF (17/34 vs. 2/13, P = 0.05). Univariate analysis of factors predicting response revealed only class of nephritis as a significant factor predicting response (complete or partial) at the end of induction therapy.
Conclusion: In this South Indian lupus registry a complete response at 6 months in biopsy-proven LN was better with cyclophosphamide than mycophenolate. Keywords: Cyclophosphamide, lupus, mycophenolate, nephritis, systemic lupus erythematosus
How to cite this article:
Talari K, Irlapati RV, Uppin M, Rajasekhar L. Outcome of therapy in biopsy proven lupus nephritis with cyclophosphamide or mycophenolate: Registry data from a South Indian tertiary care center. Indian J Rheumatol 2017;12:76-80 |
How to cite this URL:
Talari K, Irlapati RV, Uppin M, Rajasekhar L. Outcome of therapy in biopsy proven lupus nephritis with cyclophosphamide or mycophenolate: Registry data from a South Indian tertiary care center. Indian J Rheumatol [serial online] 2017 [cited 2023 Feb 1];12:76-80. Available from: https://www.indianjrheumatol.com/text.asp?2017/12/2/76/199126 |
| Introduction | |  |
Nephritis is the most common major organ manifestation in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). From 1953 to 1969, the presence of proliferative lupus nephritis (LN) portended poor prognosis for patients with SLE and 5-year survival among patients with Class IV LN was only 17% compared with 49% among all lupus patients. The introduction of high-dose steroids improved these outcomes to 55% and 82%, respectively over the subsequent decade and regular use
of cyclophosphamide improved 5-year survival to 80% among patients with Class IV LN and 86% among all lupus patients from the year 1980 onward.[1]
Therapies for LN now include cyclophosphamide [oral and intravenous (IV)], mycophenolate, azathioprine, rituximab, cyclosporine, tacrolimus, plasmapheresis, and leflunomide.
Cyclophosphamide and mycophenolate are the currently proposed first-line agents for induction in LN.[2] Various trials and a meta-analysis suggest an equal efficacy of both the drugs. A randomized, controlled trial published from North India suggested equal efficacy and safety of Euro-Lupus Nephritis Trial cyclophosphamide (ELNT CyC) and oral mycophenolate mofetil (MMF).[3] No literature exists from India comparing the efficacy of the three different regimens available for treatment of LN – high dose cyclophosphamide (HD CyC), ELNT cyclophosphamide, and oral mycophenolate. Hence, we sought to analyze the response rate with induction regimen received.
| Methods | | |
This study was conducted in the Department of Rheumatology at our institute. All patients with SLE are enrolled into lupus registry of our department. Data are populated into standard pro forma during a patient's visit. Follow-up data are recorded into extensions of this standard pro forma.
Patients and data collection
All patients with biopsy-proven LN and at least 6 months of follow-up data in the registry between the years 2003 and 2013 were included for analysis.
Those patients with a normal biopsy and patients lost to follow-up were excluded from the analysis.
The following data have been collected from the lupus registry for each patient. Demographic variables such as name, age, and gender. Clinical details such as age at onset of lupus, age at onset of LN, and blood pressure (systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure) at the onset of LN. Laboratory values including urine examination (dipstick albumin, active sediments – red blood cells, white blood cells, and casts) and protein quantification (24 h urine protein and spot protein creatinine ratio). Serologic data such as anti-double-stranded DNA titers, complement (C3, C4) levels at the onset of LN, and completion of induction regimen. Renal biopsy – class of nephritis, activity, and chronicity index. Treatment received – whether pulse steroid was given prior to starting oral prednisolone or not, induction therapy given – ELNY CyC, HD Cyc, MMF or any other drug received, and interruption of induction therapy (adverse effects, default). Follow-up data including flares (mild, moderate, severe), maintenance regimen received, and time to first flare. Missing data were collected retrospectively from patient's records.
Lupus nephritis was classified as per the ISN/RPS 2003 classification for LN. Protocol of ELNT was as follows; cyclophosphamide (ELNT CyC): 500 mg IV once every 2 weeks for a total of 6 doses. regime of HD CyC was 500–1000 mg/m 2 IV once a month for 6 doses. Induction therapy with MMF was 2 g daily orally for 6 months.
In pulse steroid therapy patients had 1 g methylprednisolone IV daily for 3 days.
The response was defined as per the American College of Rheumatology response criteria for proliferative and membranous LN as follows; complete response: Urinary protein: urinary creatinine ratio is <0.2, partial response at least 50% reduction in the urinary protein:urinary creatinine ratio and the urinary protein:urinary creatinine ratio is 0.2–2.0.[4] Primary outcome of this study was response rates (complete and partial) as assessed at 6 months and secondary outcome was factors predicting response.
Statistical analysis
All continuous data are expressed as mean ± standard deviation or median with range. Categorical data are expressed as a percentage. Baseline characteristics were compared between the three groups (HD CyC, ELNT CyC, MMF) with unpaired t-test/Chi-square test. The difference in outcome measures was analyzed using the Chi-square test or Fisher's exact test. Univariate analysis of the factors predicting response was done. All analysis was done using GraphPad Prism version 6.0 (Available online at http://www.graphpad.com/).
Ethical approval
This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of our institution. All patients had given their consent for their details to be included in the registry.
| Results | | |
A total of 83 patients were included for analysis. Baseline characteristics of the cohort are as shown in [Table 1]. Of the remaining 78 patients; two patients received azathioprine, one received modified ponticelli, one cyclosporine, forty patients HD CyC, 14 ELNT CyC, and twenty patients MMF. Baseline characteristics between the three groups were comparable [Table 2]. The mean dose of MMF given was 1.92 ± 0.24 g/day.
Primary outcome
The response rate was similar between the three groups. 30/40 in the HD CyC group, 12/14 in the ELNT CyC group, and 15/20 in the MMF group responded at the end of induction (P = 0.69). Complete response rate was higher in the individuals who received cyclophosphamide (HD CyC or ELNT CyC) as compared to MMF (17/34 vs. 2/13, P = 0.05).
Secondary outcome
Univariate analysis of factors predicting response revealed only class of nephritis as a significant factor predicting response (complete or partial) at the end of induction therapy. Patients with a mixed class (III/IV + V) were more frequently nonresponders than those with pure Class III or Class IV [Table 3].
| Discussion | | |
This study compares the efficacy of different induction regimens in LN. There is enough evidence from the West to suggest that HD CyC, fixed dose CyC, or MMF 3 g/day are equally efficacious in inducing remission in patients with LN.[5],[6] Similar literature is not available from India. Indians have also been underrepresented in multicenter trials like the ALMS trial for LN.[5] Asians included in the ALMS trial were predominantly from the oriental countries, while it was believed that South Indian population is probably indigenous or related to the Aboriginal population in Australia. Hence, the results of the above studies cannot be extrapolated to South Indian population.[7] Moreover, as compared to previous trials in LN from the West, our patients had a lower mean serum creatinine and lower mean proteinuria.
Literature from India is limited on therapy outcomes in LN; these have been summarized in [Table 4].[3],[8],[9],[10],[11],[12],[13] In the randomized trial, Rathi et al. have suggested comparable efficacy and safety of ELNT CyC and oral MMF.[3] Baseline characteristics of our patient cohort are comparable to patient characteristics in this trial except for a lower mean proteinuria. In the present study CyC and MMF had equal response rates at the end of induction, though CyC showed better and statistically significant complete response rates than MMF. Adequate follow-up data were not available for all patients to assess long-term response to these drugs.
Lower complete response with MMF in our study can be explained by two probable reasons. First, as suggested above, the genetic makeup of the South Indian population could be different from the rest of India and the Asians.[7] Second, the mean dose of MMF used in our study was 1.92 ± 0.24 g/day as compared to higher doses in the previous trials.[3],[14]
Mycophenolate had more adverse effects resulting in frequent induction interruption than CyC, the most common adverse event being infection. Gastrointestinal adverse effects are usually not reported by our patients on MMF. This could mean a higher dose of mycophenolate may be tolerated by this patient population which could result in higher response rates. Having said this, it is a fact that financial constraints restrict the use of mycophenolate in our practice, the economics of which have been highlighted in the paper by Rathi et al.[3]
In a study conducted by Austin et al., proliferation on biopsy with 50% or more cellular crescents and less extensive cellular crescents plus moderate to severe interstitial fibrosis predicted poor renal outcome. Serum creatinine, hematocrit, race, and kidney pathology data emerged as independent predictors of poor renal outcome.[15] A study from India suggested low C3, hematuria, hypertension, creatinine, lack of remission, and occurrence of major infection as factors predicting the poor outcome on the long-term in LN.[11] In our study, proliferative LN (Class III + IV) predicted response. However, no other clinical, laboratory, or treatment-related parameters were found to predict response.
Our study has certain limitations. First, there was an unequal distribution of patients in the three treatment groups with an overall small sample size. As most of the patients undergoing treatment in our center had financial constraints, CyC remained the most commonly used induction agent. Second, strict compliance to an adequate dose of MMF cannot be vouched for as the data was collected from a registry. The strength of our study, however, is that it is a registry data which reflect a more practical situation than clinical trials where the inclusion criteria are strictly defined hence a large group of patients is excluded from the study.
In conclusion, cyclophosphamide demonstrated better complete response rates than mycophenolate at the end of induction and it remains a widely used drug in our and similar settings. Studies with higher doses of MMF compared to CyC with a longer follow-up from an Indian population are warranted.
Financial support and sponsorship
Nil.
Conflicts of interest
There are no conflicts of interest.
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[Table 1], [Table 2], [Table 3], [Table 4]
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