Immunosuppressive therapy for steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome: a Bayesian network meta-analysis of randomized controlled studies.

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study was to conduct a meta-analysis examining the efficacy of cyclophosphamide, cyclosporin, and tacrolimus in treating steroid resistant nephrotic syndrome.

METHODS

Medline, Cochrane, EMBASE, and Google Scholar were searched until May 02, 2017 using the keywords: immunosuppressive therapy, steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome, cyclophosphamide, cyclosporine A, and tacrolimus. Inclusion criteria were randomized controlled trials (RCTs) including patients with SRNS treated with an immunosuppressive therapy or placebo.

RESULTS

Seven RCTs were included, and the number of patients ranged from 30 to 131. Conventional pair-wise meta-analysis indicated a higher odds of complete or partial remission with tacrolimus as compared to cyclophosphamide [odds ratio (OR) 4.908, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.278-10.576, P < 0.001], and cyclophosphamide (OR 0.143, 95% CI 0.028-0.721, P = 0.019) and placebo (OR 0.043, 95% CI 0.012-0.157, P < 0.001) were associated with a lower likelihood of complete or partial remission than cyclosporine. Bayesian analysis indicated that tacrolimus and cyclosporine were the best and the second-best agents for inducing a complete or partial remission (rank probability = 0.53 for tacrolimus and 0.46 for cyclosporine).

CONCLUSION

As compared to cyclophosphamide and cyclosporin, tacrolimus is more effective at inducing remission in patients with SRNS.