[Therapeutic effect of Tripterygium wilfordii multiglycosides on proteinuria in kidney transplant recipients].

OBJECTIVE

To study the effect of multiglycosides of Tripterygium wilfordii (MTW) for treatment of proteinuria in kidney transplant recipients.

METHODS

Forty-five kidney transplant recipients with proternuria were randomized into 3 groups (n=15) and received full daily dose (1 mg/kg) MTW, half dose (0.5 mg/kg) MTW or no MTW (control) in addition to immunosuppressant therapy. The 24-hour urinary protein (24 h Upro), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine (Scr), dose of ciclosporin and the adverse effects of MTW were recorded.

RESULTS

MTW at both the full dose and half dose significantly reduced the 24 h Upro as compared to exclusive immunosuppressant therapy (P<0.05). The therapeutic dose of ciclosporin in patients with full and half dose of MTW was significantly lower than that in the control group (P<0.05), and the patients receiving full dose MTW showed greater adverse effects than those having half dose MTW (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

MTW can significantly ameliorate proteinuria, reduce the therapeutic dose of ciclosporin and protect the renal function in kidney transplant recipients. While producing similar therapeutic effect to routine full dose, long-term use of half dose MTW may reduce the adverse effect associated with MTW.