Mycophenolate Mofetil versus Cyclosporine in Children with Frequent Relapse Nephrotic Syndrome

Children with frequently relapsing nephrotic syndrome (FRNS) frequently develop adverse effects of prednisolone and attempts to induce long term remission in such patients have varying degree of success.
We conducted a randomized clinical trial in a tertiary care level hospital to compare the efficacy and safety of a 1 year treatment with mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) and Cyclosporine (CsA) in 60 pediatric patients with FR-SSNS during one year period. We assessed the frequency of relapse as the primary end point and evaluated clinical and laboratory profile after 3 and 6 months of treatment.
Mean number of relapse was 1.50 ± 1.44 in MMF group and 0.72 ± 1.30 in CsA group at 6 months (p=0.045). Diarrhoea was statistically significant in MMF group. Hypertrichosis & hypertension were statistically significant in CsA group. There was no significant difference between groups with Hb levels, lipid profile, eGFR.
The result of the study showed MMF is inferior to CsA in preventing relapse in patient with FRNS but less nephrotoxic.