A review of the re-emergence of adrenocorticotrophic hormone therapy in glomerular disease, more than a drug of last resort?

Abstract

There has been a re-emergence of interest in adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) in patients with resistant nephrotic syndrome. We describe a patient with severe nephrosis and advanced chronic kidney disease with idiopathic membranous nephropathy resistant to conventional immunosuppressive therapies that achieved lasting remission with ACTH therapy. We explore the literature showing the extra renoprotective effects which might explain the response of proteinuric renal diseases to this treatment.