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Nephrotic Syndrome Treatment

How Is Nephrotic Syndrome Treated?

In adults, the goals of treatment are to relieve symptoms, prevent complications, and delay long-term kidney damage. Treatment approaches may differ depending on the underlying disease or cause (see What Is Nephrotic Syndrome). Your doctor will put together a treatment plan that includes diet, medications, or both to address the underlying cause of the nephrotic syndrome and manage any additional symptoms of nephrotic syndrome such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and protein in the urine.

Your doctor may prescribe blood pressure medication such as an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE Inhibitors) or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs). These agents are used to control blood pressure and help to decrease the amount of protein loss in the urine. Corticosteroids and other drugs that suppress the immune system may be used. Additional medication, such as a statin, may be needed to reduce cholesterol and triglycerides, which will also reduce the risk of heart and blood vessel problems.

Regardless of the course of treatment plan you and your doctor choose, your doctor will monitor you closely and conduct regular urine and blood tests.

Acthar is one treatment that may be used to help control proteinuria in certain patients.

Acthar in the Treatment of NS

Acthar is indicated to induce a diuresis or a remission of proteinuria in the nephrotic syndrome without uremia of the idiopathic type or that due to lupus erythematosus.

When your current treatment regimen is not controlling your symptoms, talk to your doctor about Acthar.

For patients who are not well controlled with first-line treatment, Acthar is one treatment that may be used to help control proteinuria in certain patients. Acthar effectively reduces the loss of protein from the blood into urine in Nephrotic Syndrome.

Please see important safety information for Acthar.

Questcor is a biopharmaceutical company whose products help patients with serious, difficult-to-treat medical conditions. We are working with leading nephrologists to study further the use of Acthar in the treatment of nephrotic syndrome.

Questcor

Uses

H.P. Acthar^® Gel (repository corticotropin injection) is an adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) analogue used for:

Monotherapy treatment of infantile spasms (IS) in infants and children under 2 years of age.
The treatment of exacerbations of multiple sclerosis in adults.
For inducing a diuresis or a remission of proteinuria in the nephrotic syndrome without uremia of the idiopathic type or that due to lupus erythematosus.
The following: rheumatic disorders; collagen diseases; dermatologic diseases; allergic states; ophthalmic diseases and respiratory diseases.

Important Safety Information

Patients, parents, and caregivers should be aware of the important information about H.P. Acthar^® Gel.

Acthar should never be given intravenously (into a vein). Acthar should not be used in patients with a skin condition called scleroderma, bone density loss (osteoporosis), infection throughout the body, eye infection called ocular herpes simplex, recent surgery, history of or a current stomach ulcer, heart problems, high blood pressure, or allergy to pig-derived proteins. Tell your doctor about any health problems or medicines.

Acthar may cause side effects similar to side effects that happen due to treatment with steroid medicines. Not all of these side effects have occurred with Acthar but they may occur. Acthar is a medicine that affects a patient’s immune system, and therefore patients may be more likely to get new infections, or inactive infections may become active. Acthar has effects on the adrenal gland. When a patient is taking Acthar, their adrenal gland may produce too much of a hormone called cortisol. This can cause symptoms of Cushing’s syndrome (upper body fat, rounded face, thin skin), which is more common in patients who take this medicine for a long time. When a patient stops taking Acthar after a long time, the body may not produce enough cortisol on its own (adrenal insufficiency). The doctor may prescribe a steroid medicine to protect the body until the adrenal gland recovers. Do not stop administering Acthar without talking to your doctor first. Blood pressure should be checked during treatment, and your doctor may instruct you to make some dietary changes. Patients should not receive certain vaccines during treatment with Acthar. Talk to your doctor about which vaccines are safe for use. Acthar may hide (or mask) symptoms of other conditions or diseases and it may be more difficult for your doctor to diagnose other conditions or diseases in you or your child during treatment. The person receiving Acthar has an increased risk for bleeding from the stomach or having a stomach ulcer. Inform your doctor about any pain in the stomach area, bloody vomit, or bloody or black stools. While on Acthar changes in mood and behavior such as irritability, depression, or trouble sleeping, may occur.

Other side effects are possible. Acthar may make certain other medical conditions worse, such as diabetes (may increase blood sugar); cause eye problems, such as cataracts, increased pressure in the eye (glaucoma), and possible damage to the optic nerve; and cause allergic reactions to Acthar (seen as skin rash, swelling of the face, tongue, lips, or throat, and trouble breathing). Acthar may affect growth and physical development after long term use. Long term use of Acthar may cause an increase in the size of the heart, but this condition usually goes away after Acthar is stopped.

The most common side effects of Acthar in infants include: infections, increased blood pressure, irritability and changes in behavior, changes in appetite and weight, diarrhea, and vomiting. Other adverse reactions reported in adults and children over 2 years of age included: abdominal bloating, anxiety, asthma, chest discomfort, congestive heart failure, dizziness, shortness of breath, redness of the face, fluid retention, flushing, headache, injection site pain, tiredness, muscle weakness, nervousness, rapid heart rate and lack of energy. Tell your doctor if there is any side effect that bothers you or your child or that does not go away. These are not all of the possible side effects of Acthar. For more information, ask your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist or call 1-800-465-9217. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

For a full list of warnings, precautions, and adverse events related to Acthar, please refer to the full Prescribing Information and discuss this information with your healthcare provider.

H.P. Acthar^® Gel and Questcor^® are registered trademarks of Questcor Pharmaceuticals, Inc.