INFORMATION FOR PATIENTS

• What is Required if You Participate?
• What is FSGS?
• Patient Handbook [.pdf]
• Find a Trial Physician
• FAQs for Potential Patients
• Repository Info for Patients
• Introduction to Informed Consent Video (English) New!
• Introduction to Informed Consent Video (Spanish) New!
• Download Free Quicktime Player if needed to view Video

What is Required if You Decide to Participate?

You will have a few tests done before you get any medication (Baseline). These include urine and blood tests, and a complete physical exam. We will evaluate the amount of protein in your urine, measure your kidney function, blood electrolytes, liver function, and cholesterol.

If you are a woman able to have children, two extra things will be done:

(1) a urine pregnancy test because one of the medicines used in the study (Lisinopril) can harm a developing fetus; and
(2) you will be asked to use a form of birth control.

There will be 15 visits during the year and a half duration of the study. At all visits, urine and blood will be colllected, your heart rate and blood pressure will be measured, and you will be asked about any symptoms or side effects you may have had since your last visit.

No matter which treatment group you are in, you will take a low dose of prednisone (a steroid) every other morning and Lisinopril everyday. Lisinopril is a medication that lowers blood pressure and decreases the amount of protein in the urine.

If you are in the cyclosporine group, you will take cyclosporine two times a day for 52 weeks. The dose may be modified based on side effects you may have and/or the blood levels of cyclosporine.

If you are in the MMF group, you will be required to take MMF every day for 52 weeks. The dose may be modified based on any side effects you may have. You will also be required to take Dexamethasone on 23 out of the 52 weeks.

The doses of all medications prescribed will be based on your weight.