Treatment of Severe IgA Nephropathy With Omega‐3 Fatty Acids: The Effect of a “Very Low Dose” Regimen

Figures & data

Table 1. Baseline Characteristics of Patients in the PFA and Control Groups.a

	PFA‐treated (n = 14)	Controls (n = 14)
Age (yrs)	41 ± 12	39 ± 10
Male	10 (71%)	12 (86%)
Hypertension	12 (86%)	8 (57%)
Mean arterial blood pressure (mmHg)	113 (± 10)	109 (± 13)
Serum creatinine (mg/dL)	2.2 (± 0.7)	2.8 (± 1.4)
GFR (mL/min)	46 (± 12)	45 (± 23)
Proteinuria (g/24h)	2.0 (± 1.9)	1.6 (± 1.4)
Serum cholesterol (mg/dL)	290 (± 102)	243 (± 96)
Serum triglycerides (mg/dL)	215 (± 131)	200 (± 100)
Hematocrit (%)	37 (± 5)	38 (± 6)
Time from biopsy to randomization (years)	2.7 (± 0.7)	2.4 (± 1.0)
Morphologic indexesb
Activity score	2.3 (± 0.8)	2.5 (± 1.9)
Chronicity score	4.8 (± 1.6)	5.1 (± 1.6)

Abbreviations: PFA = omega‐3 fatty acids, GFR = Glomerular filtration rate.

^aPlus‐minus values are means ± SD. All p values for the comparison between groups were > 0.05.

^bBased on a scoring system proposed by Andreoli et al.[14]

Table 2. Occurrence of Primary and Secondary End Points in PFA‐Treated Patients and Controls After 4 Years

End point	PFA‐treated (n = 14)	Controls (n = 14)	p value
Primary
> 50% increase in serum creatinine	1 (7%)	6 (43%)	< 0.01
< 50% decrease in GFR	1 (7%)	7 (50%)	< 0.007
Secondary
Mean annual changes in
– Serum creatinine (mg/dL/yr)	0.2	1.0	< 0.01
– GFR (mL/min/yr)	− 1.4	− 3.0	< 0.001
– Proteinuria (g/24h)	− 0.70	− 0.19	< 0.04
ESRD
– number of events	1 (7%)	6 (43%)	< 0.01

Abbreviations: PFA = omega‐3 fatty acids, GFR = Glomerular filtration rate, ESRD = End stage renal disease.

Figure 1. Annual rate of change in serum creatinine in patients with IgA nephropathy treated with omega‐3 fatty acids (PFA) or controls. Mean values are indicated by the asterisk.

Figure 2. Annual rate of change in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in patients with IgA nephropathy treated with omega‐3 fatty acids (PFA) or controls. Mean values are indicated by the asterisk.

Table 3. Comparative Outcome of Renal Function and Other Parameters in the PFA‐Treated and Control Groups at the End of the 4‐Year Period of Treatment.a

	PFA‐treated (n = 14)			Controls (n = 14)
	Baseline	End	p	Baseline	End	p
Mean blood pressure (mmHg)	113 ± 10	107 ± 9	NS	109 ± 13	108 ± 11	NS
Proteinuria (g/24h)	2.0 ± 1.9	0.8 ± 0.4	< 0.02	1.6 ± 1.4	0.9 ± 0.6	NS
Serum creatinine (mg/dL)	2.2 ± 0.7	2.3 ± 2.2	NS	2.8 ± 1.4	5.9 ± 3.9	< 0.007
GFR (mL/min/1.73m^2)	46 ± 12	41 ± 13	NS	45 ± 23	34 ± 30	< 0.06
Hematocrit (%)	37 ± 5	39 ± 6	NS	38 ± 6	36 ± 9	NS
Cholesterol (mg/dL)	290 ± 102	250 ± 98	NS	243 ± 96	215 ± 92	NS
Triglycerides (mg/dL)	215 ± 131	200 ± 97	NS	200 ± 100	198 ± 101	NS
Potassium (mEq/L)	4.6 (± 0.5)	4.7 (± 0.8)	NS	4.3 (± 0.6)	4.5 (± 0.4)	NS
Sodium (mEq/L)	139 (± 11)	138 (± 9.0)	NS	141 (± 7.0)	140 (± 5.0)	NS

Abbreviations: GFR = Glomerular filtration rate, NS = Nonsignificant.

^aValues are mean ± SD.

Andreoli S. P., Yum N. M., Bergstein J. M. IgA nephropathy in children: significance of glomerular basement membrane deposition of IgA. Am. J. Nephrol. 1986; 6: 28–33, [PUBMED], [INFOTRIEVE], [CSA]

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