Safety and efficacy of mizoribine treatment in nephrotic syndrome complicated with hepatitis B virus infection: a clinical study

Abstract

Objective The objective of this study is to explore the efficacy and safety of mizoribine (MZR) in treating nephrotic syndrome patients afflicted with hepatitis B virus (HBV). Methods The present study included 36 nephrotic syndrome patients accompanied with HBV infection. A draft of MZR (150–200 mg/d), methylprednisolone (0.6–0.8 mg/kg·d), and entecavir (0.5 mg/d) was administered to study patients over 24 weeks. The serum albumin (AlB), 24-h urine protein (24-U-TP), liver and renal functions, and HBV-DNA were quantified before and at 2, 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, and 24 weeks after the treatment. The adverse responses were recorded. Results The AlB levels of patients increased gradually after comprehensive treatment, while the 24-U-TP, serum cholesterol, and triglyceride (TG) levels declined gradually. The changes at 24 weeks post-treatment were statistically significant. Compared with the levels before treatment, the HBV-DNA, transaminase, and renal functions of the patients were not significantly altered after the treatment. No evident adverse response was found. Conclusion Treatment using MZR in combination with methylprednisolone and entecavir in HBV-positive nephrotic syndrome patients displays significant efficacy with a low incidence of adverse reactions.

Keywords:

• Hepatitis B virus infection
• mizoribine
• nephrotic syndrome
• safety and efficacy

Disclosure statement

All authors have signed a Competing Interests and Acknowledgement Statement on submission of the manuscript.

Funding information

This project was supported by Science Foundation of the Health Department of Hunan Province (Grants no. 132013–029). The funders had no role in study design, data collection, and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.