steroid used to treat kidney ailments has adverse effects

Prof Dr D ram hiv,aids,hepatitis and sex diseases expert New delhi +078380595991

 A steroid used to treat a kidney disease, common in India, itself causes unacceptable levels of infections among patients, a new study has found and stressed the need to change the existing treatment guidelines.The study conducted by the George Institute for Global Health found that treatment with pills of methylprednisolone is linked to a large increase in the risk of serious adverse effects such as infections, gastrointestinal and bone disorders among patients with IgA nephropathy and those having excess protein in their urine.

I     gA nephropathy is a kidney disease that occurs when the antibody immunoglobulin A (IgA) gets deposited in the kidneys."Up to 30 per cent of all people with IgA nephropathy will eventually develop end-stage kidney disease. Decreased kidney function, persistent proteinuria, and hypertension are the strongest risk factors," said Vivekanand Jha, Executive Director -- GIGH India.

             Methylprednisolone is also used to treat conditions like skin diseases, rheumatic disorders, allergies, asthma among others.In the study, participants with IgA nephropathy and proteinuria (presence of excess proteins in urine) were randomly assigned to oral methylprednisolone for two months, with subsequent weaning over 4 to 6 months.

          Recruitment was planned in several countries including China and India but after 2.1 years' median follow-up, it was discontinued because of an unexpectedly high rate of serious adverse effects, including infections, gastrointestinal and bone disorders, it said."Our effort is to see that the treatment should produce benefit, but with no side effect or risk as was seen in the first phase.

           "A series of steps are being taken to mitigate this risk in the second phase - this includes reducing the dose and giving it for slightly longer duration, and use of prophylaxis against the common infections like TB, and lung infections," said Jha.The George Institute for Global Health works on a broad health landscape and conducts clinical, population and health system research aimed at changing health practice and policy worldwide.The Institute has been ranked among the top 10 global institutes for impact for the last several years.