Elsevier

The Lancet

Volume 357, Issue 9269, 26 May 2001, Pages 1672-1673
The Lancet

Research Letters
Use of pentoxifylline in membranous nephropathy

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(00)04830-3Get rights and content

Summary

Urinary TNF-α excretion correlates with proteinuria in patients with membranous nephropathy (MGN). Pentoxifylline suppresses or reduces the production of TNF-α. Between April, 1999 and August, 2000, we did a single-centre, prospective, pilot study to assess the effects of pentoxifylline (1200 mg/day) on proteinuria in patients with idiopathic MGN. Ten patients were included and treated for 6 months. Pentoxifylline significantly decreased proteinuria from 11g/day [range 4·6–27] to 1·8 (0–10·9); p=0·001). Pentoxifylline may be a safe and effective adjunct to steroids and immunosuppressants in patients with MGN.

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