Comparison Between Tacrolimus (TAC) and Mycophenolate Mofetil (MMF) for Induction of Remission in Lupus Nephritis

Exclusion Criteria

• •Severe extra-renal manifestations that may require high-dose steroids or other immunomodulating treatments. The definition of severe extra-renal diseases in this investigation are defined by
• •* Active central nervous system deemed to be severe or progressive and/ or associated with significant cognitive impairment leading to inability to provide informed consent and/ or comply with the protocol.
• •* Any condition, including clinical findings or the laboratory results, which the investigators consider the patients have high disease activity and need high dose steroid and immunosuppressive drugs or other therapy depending on investigator opinion.
• •* Severe myocarditis with congestive heart failure or renal failure.
• •Previous therapy with calcineurin inhibitor or MMF or CYC within the previous 4 months before randomization.
• •Allergy with macrolide antibiotics.
• •Uncontrolled hypertension (systolic blood pressure ≥160mmHg or diastolic blood pressure ≥100mmHg) at screening day.
• •Severely deteriorated renal function or rapid progressive crescentic Glomerulonephritis.
• •Severe myocarditis or cardiomyopathy which may or may not be related to SLE
• •Patients who have thrombotic microangiopathy who require treatment with plasmapheresis or IVIG.
• •Severe infection or active TB.
• •Active hepatitis and evidence of chronic liver disease.
• •HIV infection.
• •Diabetes mellitus.
• •Women who were pregnant or unwilling to use contraception.
• •Patients who response to steroid (complete remission) during the run in period (4 weeks).
• •Known hypersensitivity or contraindication to MMF, mycophenolic acid (MPA), tacrolimus, corticosteroids or any components of these drug products.