966 eGFR (ml/min/1.73 m2) 67 ± 22 73 ± 26 74 ± 25 0.899 Urinary protein excretion (g/day) 7.8 ± 3.9 11.3 ± 6.1 7.9 ± 4.5 0.095 Total cholesterol (mg/dl) 488 ± 194 581 ± 284 492 ± 109 0.392 Albumin (g/dl) 1.6 ± 0.5 1.6 ± 0.6 2.0 ± 0.6 0.059 Hemoglobin (g/dl) 14.9 ± 1.7 15.2 ± 1.7 15.1 ± 2.5 0.933 eGFR estimated glomerular filtration rate Days of AZD0530 hospitalization The LOS after the start of therapy was the shortest in Group 1 and the longest in Group 3 (23.6 ± 5.1 days in Group 1; 43.2 ± 23.3 days in Group 2; 53.6 ± 17.6 days in Group 3, P < 0.001 by ANOVA, Fig. 1a). Fig. 1 Length of hospital stay (a) and days required to attain complete remission

(b) after the start of therapy in the three groups Durations of remission All patients achieved complete remission at 10 weeks. No significant differences were observed in the mean durations to enter complete remission after the start of therapy among the learn more three groups (14.6 ± 6.9 days in Group 1; 19.7 ± 16.8 days in Group 2; 18.2 ± 9.9 days in Group 3; P = 0.450 by ANOVA, Fig. 1b). Total amount of prednisolone used The total amount

of prednisolone used after the start of therapy to 6 months was the smallest in Group 1 and highest in Group 3 (3,444 ± 559 mg in Group 1; 4,558 ± 1,251 mg in Group 2; 5,330 ± 1,333 mg in Group 3; P < 0.001 by ANOVA, Fig. 2). The total amounts click here of oral prednisolone and methylprednisolone were similar in Groups 1 and 3 at 6 months. Fig. 2 Total amount of prednisolone administered during therapy for 6 months in the three groups Duration to achieve less than 20 mg/day of prednisolone The mean duration to achieve <20 mg/day of prednisolone after the start of therapy was the shortest in Group 1 and the longest in Group 3 (88.5 ± 28.0 days in Group 1; 124.5 ± 70.4 days in Group 2; 159.4 ± 96.0 days in Group 3, P = 0.026 by ANOVA, Fig. 3). Fig. 3 Days required to achieve <20 mg/day of prednisolone after the start of therapy

in the three groups Relapse rate Figure 4 shows the duration of sustained remission analyzed by the life-table method. During a follow-up period of 9 months, Group 1 showed no relapse and maintained a remission rate of 100 %, whereas Groups 2 and 3 had remission rates of 85.7 and 69.2 %, respectively (P = 0.073). The estimated SPTLC1 sustained remission rate at 24 months was 77 % in Group 1, 70 % in Group 2, and 49 % in Group 3 (P = 0.226). Fig. 4 Duration of sustained remission in the three groups. The proportion of patients who remained in remission during the subsequent 24 months was calculated by the life-table method Renal function No significant differences were observed in average serum creatinine levels between 6 months after the start of therapy and prior to the treatment in all groups (Group 1: 1.02 ± 0.48–0.83 ± 0.14 mg/dl, P = 0.135; Group 2: 0.97 ± 0.41–0.81 ± 0.23 mg/dl, P = 0.064; Group 3: 0.95 ± 0.31–0.82 ± 0.18 mg/dl, P = 0.120).