Clinical Observation of Sequential Therapy with Dexamethasone an d Prednisone in Treating Adult Primary Nephrotic Syndrome

Objective To explore the effect of sequential therapy using dexamethasone and prednisone in treating adult primary nephrotic syndrome.Methods 64 patients suffered with primary nephrotic syndrome were randomly divided into 3 groups,which were treated respectively by sequential therapy with dexamethasone and prednisone(observational group,22 cases),standard treatment with prednisone administrated orally(control group A,21 cases),and sequential therapy with methylprednisolone and prednisone(control group B,21 cases).Regression time of edema,disappearing time of urine protein,relieving time of the symptoms,therapeutic effect,as well as incidence of adverse effects were recorded and compared between the different groups.Results Regression time of edema and disappearing time of urine protein of observational group were significantly less than those of control group A(P0.05),but no statistical differences were found between the observational group and control group B(P0.05).Therapeutic effects between the 3 groups exhibited no statistical differences(P0.05).As for relieving time of the symptoms,it was statistically shorter for observational group as compared with control group A(P0.05),while no difference was found between observational group and control group B(P0.05).And no differences in incidence of adverse effects were found among the three groups.Conclusion As compared with standard prednisone treatment in treating primary nephrotic syndrome,sequential therapy with dexamethasone and prednisone can induce relieving the symptoms promptly,shortening regression time of edema as well as disappearing time of urine protein.At the same time,such a treatment method exhibited less water sodium retention effects and is much cheaper than sequential therapy with methylprednisolone and prednisone,thus is worthy of spreading its use in primary hospitals.