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. 2019 Nov 21;2019(11):CD003594. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD003594.pub6

Summary of findings 2. Calcineurin inhibitor versus IV cyclophosphamide for idiopathic steroid‐resistant nephrotic syndrome in children.

Calcineurin inhibitor versus IV cyclophosphamide for idiopathic steroid‐resistant nephrotic syndrome in children
Patient or population: idiopathic steroid‐resistant nephrotic syndrome in children
 Setting: paediatric nephrology services
 Intervention: calcineurin inhibitor (CNI)
 Comparison: IV cyclophosphamide (CPA)
Outcomes Anticipated absolute effects* (95% CI) Relative effect
 (95% CI) No. of participants
 (studies) Certainty of the evidence
 (GRADE)
Risk with IV CPA Risk with CNI
Treatment response at 3 to 6 months: complete or partial remission 397 per 1,000 787 per 1,000
 (497 to 1,000) RR 1.98
 (1.25 to 3.13) 156 (2) ⊕⊕⊝⊝
 LOW 1 2
Treatment response at 3 to 6 months: complete remission 128 per 1,000 440 per 1,000
 (236 to 822) RR 3.43
 (1.84 to 6.41) 156 (2) ⊕⊕⊝⊝
 LOW 1 2
Treatment response at 3 to 6 months: partial remission 269 per 1,000 452 per 1,000
 (116 to 1,000) RR 1.68
 (0.43 to 6.56) 156 (2) ⊕⊝⊝⊝
 VERY LOW 1 2 3
Adverse events: treatment failure at 6 months
 (non response, serious infection, persistently elevated creatinine) 541 per 1,000 173 per 1,000
 (97 to 314) RR 0.32
 (0.18 to 0.58) 124 (1) ⊕⊕⊕⊝
 MODERATE 2
Adverse events: medications ceased due to adverse events 154 per 1,000 31 per 1,000
 (6 to 132) RR 0.20
 (0.04 to 0.86) 131 (1) ⊕⊕⊕⊝
 MODERATE 2
Adverse events: serious infections 123 per 1,000 60 per 1,000
 (20 to 192) RR 0.49
 (0.16 to 1.56) 131 (1) ⊕⊕⊕⊝
 MODERATE 2
Adverse events: death 15 per 1,000 5 per 1,000
 (0 to 122) RR 0.33
 (0.01 to 7.92) 131 (1) ⊕⊕⊝⊝
 LOW 4
*The risk in the intervention group (and its 95% CI) is based on the assumed risk in the comparison group and the relative effect of the intervention (and its 95% CI).
 
 CI: Confidence interval; RR: Risk ratio
GRADE Working Group grades of evidenceHigh certainty: We are very confident that the true effect lies close to that of the estimate of the effect
 Moderate certainty: We are moderately confident in the effect estimate: The true effect is likely to be close to the estimate of the effect, but there is a possibility that it is substantially different
 Low certainty: Our confidence in the effect estimate is limited: The true effect may be substantially different from the estimate of the effect
 Very low certainty: We have very little confidence in the effect estimate: The true effect is likely to be substantially different from the estimate of effect

1 One study at high risk of attrition bias

2 Small numbers of patients included in studies

3 Significant heterogeneity between studies

4 Few events in singles study