Relationship Between the Efficacy of Low-Dose Glucocorticoids Combined with Tacrolimus in the Treatment of Adult Idiopathic Membranous Nephropathy and the Level of Serum Anti-PLA2R Antibodies

Abstract

Objective: To further evaluate the efficacy and safety of low-dose glucocorticoids combined with tacrolimus in the treatment of adult idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN) in a clinical setting. Methods: We carried out a single-center prospective study of 88 patients with IMN who were admitted into the Affiliated Hospital of Hebei University from January 2019 to December 2021, and the participants were divided into two groups based on their serum anti-PLA2R antibody levels: the negative group and the positive group. 46 patients were positive for anti-PLA2R antibodies and 42 were negative. Results: After 6 months of treatment, the serum albumin, cholesterol, and 24h urine protein quantification in the anti-PLA2R negative group improved more significantly compared to the positive group (P < 0.05); after 6 months of treatment, the remission rate of the positive group was significantly lower than that of the negative group, and (P < 0.05); Conclusion: After treatment with tacrolimus combined with low-dose glucocorticoids, patients with idiopathic membranous nephropathy who were tested positive for anti-PLA2R antibodies had a higher overall remission rate compared those who were tested negative for serum anti-PLA2R antibodies.