FSGS 10 years, Depend on Steroids, Is There Any Other Treatment

2013-01-03 05:35

My son is a patient of FSGS and has frequent relapses in last 10 years. He has been given course of endoxan (cyclophosphamide), celcept and pangraf and the dose of these medicines increases every relapse of his disease. It seems that he is dependent of steroids and the medicines are not working for him. I want to known that in my case kidney transplant is possible or not? Is there any other treatment?

FSGS is a medical condition, in which some glomeruli are involved and they are not damaged totally but partly. You mentioned your son has frequent relapse in last 10 years, but do you know why FSGS relapses so easily? Similar with your son, many other FSGS patients are also prescribed steroid medicines to deal with their problem. However, as a matter of fact, these medicines can not stop FSGS fundamentally at all. They show quick treatment effects in remitting symptoms like swelling and proteinuria, but unfortunately, they fail to repair kidney damages as well as remove real causes of kidney damages. Without fundamental treatment, more and more kidney damages will be formed and kidney failure becomes the final result.

You asked whether kidney transplant is possible for your son. I am sure your son can have kidney transplant, but before that you need to know FSGS has a high occurrence rate after kidney transplant. Therefore, kidney transplant is not a better choice for your child.

In old days, there is no effective treatment that can stop kidney disease effectively, but now there is and that is Immunotherapy. Immunotherapy, different from steroid medicines, causes no side effects. Therefore, it is worthwhile for your son. Lastly, help your son to avoid infection and cold, as they are the leading two factors that can cause relapse of FSGS. Hoping your son get well soon.