Finerenone for
IgA
Nephropathy After Renin‐Angiotensin System Inhibitors Discontinuation: A Multicentre Retrospective Cohort Study
Fang Zeng, Xiang Li, Yang Yang, Ran Zhang, Yebei Li, Daijin Ren, Xiaoli Wen, Wenjun Yan, Yu Wang, Xiaojie Xie, Dehui Liu, Gaosi Xu ABSTRACT
Background
Finerenone has emerged as a promising therapeutic agent for IgA nephropathy (IgAN). The role of finerenone in IgAN patients who have discontinued renin‐angiotensin system inhibitor (RASi) therapy remains poorly defined.
Methods
This retrospective, multicentre cohort study enrolled patients with primary IgAN who received finerenone and/or RASi treatment. Participants were categorised into three groups: the finerenone plus RASi, finerenone (after RASi discontinuation) and RASi groups. All participants had a baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) ≥ 25 mL/min/1.73 m 2 and urinary total protein (UTP) ≥ 0.5 g/day. The primary outcomes included the percentage change in UTP from baseline and the rate of significant response (defined as ≥ 50% reduction in UTP and < 20% increase in serum creatinine).
Results
Following 1:1:1 propensity score matching, a total of 258 patients were analysed, with 86 in each group. At 12 months, UTP decreased by 32.24% in the finerenone group and 34.35% in the RASi group ( p = 0.220). The finerenone plus RASi group achieved a significantly greater reduction of 54.43% compared with either monotherapy group (both p < 0.01). Kaplan–Meier analysis confirmed that the finerenone plus RASi group achieved superior significant response rates compared with either monotherapy group (both log‐rank p = 0.001). No significant difference was observed between the RASi and finerenone groups (log‐rank p = 0.856). Although the finerenone plus RASi group exhibited a numerically steeper total eGFR decline (−1.48 vs. −0.44 vs. −0.52 mL/min/1.73 m 2 /year) and a greater increase in the chronic eGFR slope (0.66 vs. 0.37 vs. 0.49 mL/min/1.73 m 2 /year), neither difference reached statistical significance compared with the finerenone or RASi groups. The incidence of adverse events was comparable across all three groups.
Conclusion
Finerenone achieved short‐term proteinuria reductions in RASi discontinued IgAN patients similar to those achieved with RASi monotherapy. Finerenone combined with RASi enhanced antiproteinuric efficacy while maintaining safety.