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Lisinopril for Lupus Nephritis?

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Posted 6/24/2014 8:13 PM (GMT 0)

Hey guys,

I don't post on here often and usually just read stuff as a resource but yesterday I went to a new kidney doctor because I didn't really like my old one...all he ever did was tell me my cholesterol was high and nothing else.

So yesterday new nephrologist who was awesome and sat and explained lupus nephritis, I have class V and have for over 2 years now, and what was going on for like an hour.  So he suggested tapering my cellcept from the current 1500 mg twice a day to hopefully nothing.  He also prescribed lisinopril to help protect my kidneys.

Has anyone else with lupus nephritis come off cellcept, added lisinopril and not had issues come back?

Posted 6/24/2014 10:29 PM (GMT 0)
Stupid question but my Rheumy put me on Cell-Cept for my LN - what is his reasoning for taking you off? Is he saying that the Cellcept is causing kidney damage? They use Cellcept in place of Cytoxan therapy for LN and then for long term maintenance as an immune suppressant.

So just curious why he wants you off the Cellcept?

As to your question - my kidney doc who did my two years of Cytoxan treatments (which sort of worked but I still have protein in my urine but it is greatly reduced) was just going to not have me on any drugs at all after the treatment - it was my rheumy who put me on the cellcept "to keep the LN from coming back and getting worse".

But I just did a Google and it looks like there is plenty of research to support the treatment so will be interesting to see what others have to say.

/tall
Posted 6/25/2014 9:22 PM (GMT 0)
its not that the cellcept is hurting me just that it is much stronger treatment then he feels like i need; i have had completely normal bloodwork and urinalysis for the past like year and a half plus. He feels like the lisinopril will protect my kidneys from the protein coming back without being immunosuppressed.

as for it treating the rest of my SLE symptoms it really isn't uber awesome with my joint pain and chest issues etc so personally i would rather be back on methotrexate.
Posted 6/25/2014 10:48 PM (GMT 0)
Cellcept is actually a chemotherapy drug for reducing rejection chances in transplant patients. When "cross-purposed" and used for Lupus, et.al, there is a limit to how much they think is safe.

Fortunately for me, when I maxed out at about 18 months, it had already greatly altered the course of my Lupus (in a positive direction), and my blood work was fairly normal.

It is difficult for the kidneys, and I'd certainly keep an eye on kidney performance it they'd wanted to keep me on it "long term".
Posted 6/25/2014 11:00 PM (GMT 0)
I have been on CellCept for 4 years. At my last visit, my rheumy dropped the dosage by 1/4. If my bloodwork and urinalysis show no change, then we will lower it another 1/4. The goal is to eliminate it completely. My kidneys have been behaving themselves. I do credit the CellCept for finally getting things under control.
Posted 6/26/2014 3:18 AM (GMT 0)
Have taken lisinopril for my lupus nephritis problems and will continue forever. However, it does not deal with the cause of the problem which is your immune system. Your nephrologist should be working along with your rheumatologist so you get the best overall treatment for lupus as well as keep your kidneys functional.

Bill

PS - I am in remission and no longer take any controlling meds for my immune system but would take them again if it acts up.
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