Background: Nephrotic range proteinuria, segmental obliteration or collapse of glomerular capillary loops in some
glomeruli, and increased extracellular matrix are the hallmarks of the podocytopathy known as focal and segmental
glomerulosclerosis (FSGS).
Objective: This research set out to determine if the matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor doxycycline (DOX) could be
useful in the management of primary focal segmental glomerulosclerosis.
Patients and Methods: This prospective cohort study was conducted on 100 patients with primary FSGS, who were
recruited from Nephrology Department at Benha University Hospital. Informed consents were signed after getting
approval from the Ethics Committee of Benha University. Inclusion criteria were age >18 years, primary FSGS,
diagnosis is confirmed by renal biopsy, patients with overt albuminuria (A/C ratio>30 mg/g and urinary albumin > 30
mg/day). Results: The hemoglobin level was significantly higher at follow-up compared to baseline level in group 1
(P=0.026) and was insignificantly different between baseline and at follow-up in group 2. Hemoglobin level at
baseline and follow-up was insignificantly different between both groups. C-reactive protein was significantly lower at
follow-up compared to baseline level in group 1 and 2 (P