Clinical Trial to Evaluate Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Alternate Day Prednisone in Patients with IgA Nephropathy: Report from the Southwest Pediatric Nephrology Study Group

• Published in: Clinical journal of the American Society of Nephrology 2006-05, Vol.1 (3), p.467-474
• Main Authors: Hogg, Ronald J, Lee, Jeannette, Nardelli, Nancy, Julian, Bruce A, Cattran, Daniel, Waldo, Bryson, Wyatt, Robert, Jennette, J Charles, Sibley, Richard, Hyland, Keith, Fitzgibbons, Lisa, Hirschman, Gladys, Donadio, Jr, James V, Holub, Bruce J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Double-Blind Method; Drug Administration Schedule; Drug Therapy, Combination; Fatty Acids, Omega-3 - therapeutic use; Female; Glomerulonephritis, IGA - drug therapy; Glucocorticoids - administration & dosage; Humans; Male; Prednisone - administration & dosage
• ISSN: 1555-9041; 1555-905X
• DOI: 10.2215/CJN.01020905

This randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial evaluated the role of prednisone and omega 3 fatty acids (O3FA) in patients with IgA nephropathy. Entry criteria were (1) biopsy-proven IgA nephropathy, (2) estimated GFR > or = 50 ml/min per 1.73 m2, and (3) moderate to severe proteinuria. Thirty-three patients were randomly assigned to receive prednisone 60 mg/m2 every other day for 3 mo, then 40 mg/m2 every other day for 9 mo, then 30 mg/m2 every other day for 12 mo (prednisone group); 32 were randomly assigned to receive O3FA 4 g/d for 2 yr (1.88 g eicosapentaenoic acid, 1.48 g docosahexaenoic acid; O3FA group); and 31 were randomly assigned to receive placebo (placebo group). Most (73%) patients completed 2 yr of treatment. Randomly assigned patients who were hypertensive were given enalapril 2.5 to 40 mg/d. The primary end point was time to failure, defined as estimated GFR