AB0497 The Euro-Lupus Protocol plus Tacrolimus for Lupus Nephritis: Potentiality of Multi-Target Therapy

Background Multi-target therapy using two immunosuppressive drugs with different mechanism of action such as mycophenolate mofetil and tacrolimus (Tac) for lupus nephritis (LN) 1 seems to be a promising treatment strategy. On the other hand, we reported a case of LN with class IV plus V unresponsive to cyclophosphamide (CY), which was successfully treated with the addition of Tac 2. Objectives To assess the effectiveness of combination therapy with CY and Tac for class III and IV (or III/IV plus V) LN as a remission induction therapy and to discuss the potentiality of this multi-target therapy by reference to renal pathological findings. Methods We evaluated 13 patients with active LN who received renal biopsy at Saitama Medical Center between January 2007 and December 2012. The complete renal remission was defined as the spot urine protein/creatinine ratio