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Abstract
50 patients with proliferative glomerulonephritis due to lupus erythematosus were
assigned in order of their chronologic appearance at the hospital alternately to treatment
with either daily high dose prednisone, azathioprine, prednisone and azathioprine
combined, or combined azathioprine and heparin. Prednisone alone was ineffective both
from a standpoint of maintaining kidney function or from preserving a state of well
being. Only 2 of 15 patients treated with prednisone are doing well with an average
survival for the group of 19 months. Azathioprine, alone, appeared very effective
with 9 of 13 patients alive and doing well with an average survival of 38 months.
Combinations of either azathioprine and prednisone or azathioprine and heparin were
most successful, only 2 of 13 in each group died of renal failure. Complications of
prednisone administra’ion were high both when prednisone was given alone or in combination
with azathioprine.