TY - JOUR T1 - Immunosuppressive Therapies for the Induction Treatment of Proliferative Lupus Nephritis: A Systematic Review and Network Metaanalysis JF - The Journal of Rheumatology JO - J Rheumatol DO - 10.3899/jrheum.140050 SP - jrheum.140050 AU - Simon Yu Tian AU - Brian M. Feldman AU - Joseph Beyene AU - Patrick E. Brown AU - Elizabeth M. Uleryk AU - Earl D. Silverman Y1 - 2014/09/15 UR - http://www.jrheum.org/content/early/2014/09/10/jrheum.140050.abstract N2 - Objective To evaluate and determine the most effective immunosuppressive therapy for the induction treatment of proliferative lupus nephritis (PLN) based on renal remission. Methods A systematic review of randomized controlled trials was conducted. The outcomes were renal remission at 6 months: (1) normalization of serum creatinine [(sCr), or within 15% of the normal range, i.e., sCr < 132 μmol/l — creatinine remission]; and (2) proteinuric remission (prU < 0.5 g/day/1.73m2). A Bayesian network metaanalysis was used. Results The OR (95% credible interval) of inducing an sCr remission at 6 months was 1.70 (0.51, 6.87) for mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) versus cyclophosphamide (CYC); 2.16 (0.38, 13.36) for tacrolimus (Tac) versus CYC; and 1.25 (0.13, 10.51) for Tac versus MMF. For proteinuric remission the OR was 1.46 (0.81, 3.04) for MMF versus CYC; 1.96 (0.80, 5.11) for Tac versus CYC; and 1.34 (0.43, 3.90) for Tac versus MMF. The probability (95% credible interval) of inducing a creatinine remission at 6 months was Tac 56% (19%, 88%); MMF 51% (23%, 79%); and CYC 37% (28%, 47%). The probability of inducing a proteinuric remission was Tac 41% (23%, 63%); MMF 34% (23%, 50%); CYC 26% (20%, 32%); azathioprine 10% (1%, 55%); prednisone 11% (2%, 38%). None of the results were conclusive when examined in a sensitivity analysis. Conclusion There is currently insufficient evidence to determine which of these immunosuppressive agents is superior. The probability of renal remission is 50% or lower at 6 months. ER -