STD prednisone + Huangqi (Astragalus) granules (oral) Dose: 7.5 g bid (<3 years); 10 g bid (3 to 6 years); 15 g bid (>6 years)
Infection (I: 14/45, C: 28/47)
STD prednisone
3 months
URTI (I: 8/45, C: 18/47)
8 months
NS
Relapse (I: 9/45, C: 23/47)
STD prednisone: initial dose 1 mg/kg/d for 8–12 weeks. Every other day for 6 months. When urine protein is negative, decreased 5 mg/wk until reduced dose tapered gradually to 0.4 mg/kg/d over 6 months and maintained at this dose for 12–18 months. Finally, tapered gradually until withdrawal to 0.5 mg/kg/d, then 1 mg/kg every other day for 6 months. STD prednisone + CTX: initial prednisone dose 1 mg/kg/d plus CTX 50 mg b.i.d.p.o. (total in 8 mg). URTI: upper respiratory tubular infection; I: intervention; C: comparision.