[Value of chlormethine in children with corticoid-dependent or partially corticoid-sensitive nephrosis, in steroid poisoning].

Mechlorethamine was administered at a low dose (0.8 mg/kg) to 27 children presenting with steroid dependent or partially responsive nephrotic syndrome, with signs of steroid toxicity. This drug induced a fast decrease of proteinuria (average delay: 7 days). It led to long lasting remission (average follow-up 34 months) in 16 cases (59%). Relapse occurred in 11 children (41%) most often (9 of 11 cases) in the first 7 months. However the evolutive pattern was clearly improved in 5 of these cases. Altogether, mechlorethamine allowed to stop corticosteroid therapy or, at least, to reduce the given dose, with a decrease of the signs of steroid toxicity, in 78% of the cases. In 6 cases (22%) evolution was almost not improved. One may hope that this dosage of mechlorethamine will not be gonadotoxic. This should be checked later on.