Imbasciati 1985.

Methods	Country: Italy Setting/Design: Multicentre RCT Time Frame: June 1980 to June 1983 Randomisation method: Table of random numbers kept in one centre Blinding ‐ Participants: No ‐ Investigators: No ‐ Outcome assessors: NS ‐ Data analyses: NS Intention‐to‐treat: Yes Follow‐up period: 12‐24 months Loss to follow‐up: 0%
Participants	INCLUSION CRITERIA Proteinuria > 3.5 g/24 h persisting for at least 2 weeks and plasma albumin concentration < 25 g/L. No secondary cause for nephrotic syndrome. Not been treated with steroids or cytotoxic agents for at least one year before admission. Kidney biopsy shows clear histological picture consistent with MCD. GROUP 1 (Methylprednisone + prednisone) Number: 11 Age: NS GROUP 2 (Prednisone alone) Number: 11 Age: NS
Interventions	GROUP 1 Methylprednisone 20 mg/kg/d IV for 3 days; then prednisone 0.5 mg/kg/d for 4 weeks PO; then 0.25‐0.5 mg/kg/alternate days PO for 4 weeks; then 0.5 mg/kg/alternate days PO for 4 months. GROUP 2 Prednisone 1 mg/kg/d for 4 weeks; then 1 mg/kg/alternate days for 4 weeks; then 0.5 mg/kg on alternate days 4 months. COINTERVENTIONS Low salt diet, diuretics, anti‐hypertensive changes as needed.
Outcomes	Complete remission within 8 weeks of treatment Time to remission (days) Relapse of nephrotic syndrome during follow‐up Number of relapses/patient/year follow‐up Proportion of patients remaining in remission Treatment‐related toxicity Nephrotic syndrome‐related adverse events
Notes	Exclusions post‐randomisation but pre‐intervention: 0 Additional data requested from authors: Allocation concealment, age of participants, mean time to remission COMPLETENESS OF FOLLOW‐UP Eligible/considered for inclusion = NS; Enrolled/randomised = 89; Analysed = 89; Percent followed = 100
Risk of bias
Bias	Authors' judgement	Support for judgement
Allocation concealment?	Unclear risk	B ‐ Unclear