The Treatment of Minimal Change Disease in Adults

Minimal change disease (MCD) is the etiology of 10%-25% of cases of nephrotic syndrome in adults. The mainstay of treatment for adult MCD, oral gucocorticoids, is based on two randomized controlled trials and extensive observational data in adults, and this treatment leads to remission in over 80% of cases. Relapses are common, and some patients become steroid-resistant (SR), steroid-dependent (SD), or frequently relapsing (FR). The data guiding the treatment of these patients are limited. Here, we review MCD in adults with particular focus on the evidence for immunosuppressive therapy in these patients. J Am Soc Nephrol 24: 702-711, 2013. doi: 10.1681/ASN.2012070734