Cyclophosphamide Versus Mycophenolate Mofetil for the Treatment of Steroid-dependent Nephrotic Syndrome in Children

Idiopathic nephrotic syndrome is steroid-sensitive in more than 90% of cases in children. However 60% of cases are steroid dependent and required treatment with immunosuppressive agent. Cyclophosphamide and ciclosporin are used for long time to reduce steroid dependency, but duration of these treatments should be restricted because of gonadotoxicity for cyclophosphamide and nephrotoxicity for ciclosporin. Mycophenolate mofetil appears as an alternative treatment without gonadotoxicity and nephrotoxicity. However, contrary to cyclophosphamide, mycophenolate mofetil does not seem to have a residual action so that treatment must be maintained during months or years. The aim of the study is to compare efficacy of cyclophosphamide and mycophenolate mofetil in steroid dependent nephrotic syndrome in children.