| Drug |
Dose |
Other |
| Prednisolone |
15 mg/day at 3 months tapered to 7.5 mg/day at 12 months |
Alternate-day schemes have been used to minimize side effects. Should not be used alone in generalized or severe forms of the disease |
| Cyclophosphamide IV pulse |
0.75 mg/m2 every 3 Months |
Oral cyclophosphamide (1.5 mg/Kg/day) might be used in patients with frequent relapses |
| Azathioprine |
2 mg/kg/day for 12 months than 1.5 mg/kg/day |
Considered the gold standard for maintenance of remission |
| Rituximab IV |
375 mg/m2 every 6 Months |
Should be considered in Patients where AZA or MTX is either contraindicated or ineffective. |
| Mycophenolate mofetil |
Starting dose 2000 mg/d reduced to 1500 mg/d after 12 months, 1000 mg/d after 18 months, and withdrawn after 42 months |
In IMPROVE trial, when compared to AZA, relapses were less frequent among those who received AZA [97] |
| Methotrexate |
Starting dose 0.3/kg per week, increased to 25 mg per week |
For limited disease not involving the kidney. Should be avoided in patients with renal impairment |
