What do systematic reviews say?

Levamisole vs steroids or placebo or both, or no treatment

Levamisole showed no clear difference in adverse effects: leucopenia compared with steroids or placebo or both, or no treatment (low certainty).

• Non‐corticosteroid immunosuppressive medications for steroid‐sensitive nephrotic syndrome in children 2020 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 4.18 [0.72, 24.21]
  3 studies · 214 participants
  Low

Levamisole vs cyclophosphamide

Levamisole showed no clear difference in adverse effects: leucopenia compared with cyclophosphamide (low certainty).

• Non‐corticosteroid immunosuppressive medications for steroid‐sensitive nephrotic syndrome in children 2020 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.25 [0.04, 1.48]
  2 studies · 97 participants
  Low

Alkylating agents vs cyclosporin

It is very uncertain whether alkylating agents changes adverse effects: leucopenia compared with cyclosporin (very low certainty).

• Non‐corticosteroid immunosuppressive medications for steroid‐sensitive nephrotic syndrome in children 2020 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 29.84 [1.84, 483.93]
  1 study · 66 participants
  Very low

Alkylating agents vs steroids, placebo or both

Alkylating agents led to higher CPA: leucopenia compared with steroids, placebo or both; GRADE not reported.

• Non‐corticosteroid immunosuppressive medications for steroid‐sensitive nephrotic syndrome in children 2020 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 10.63 [1.45, 78.05]
  Studies not reported
  GRADE not reported

Alkylating agents vs steroids, placebo or both

Alkylating agents showed no clear difference in chlorambucil: leucopenia compared with steroids, placebo or both; GRADE not reported.

• Non‐corticosteroid immunosuppressive medications for steroid‐sensitive nephrotic syndrome in children 2020 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 2.5 [0.11, 54.87]
  Studies not reported
  GRADE not reported

Intravenous vs oral cyclophosphamide

Intravenous showed no clear difference in adverse events: leucopenia compared with oral cyclophosphamide (low certainty).

• Non‐corticosteroid immunosuppressive medications for steroid‐sensitive nephrotic syndrome in children 2020 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.37 [0.09, 1.51]
  2 studies · 83 participants
  Low

Cyclophosphamide vs chlorambucil

Cyclophosphamide may leads to lower adverse effects: lymphopenia compared with chlorambucil (low certainty).

• Non‐corticosteroid immunosuppressive medications for steroid‐sensitive nephrotic syndrome in children 2020 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.43 [0.21, 0.87]
  1 study · 50 participants
  Low

Cyclophosphamide vs chlorambucil

Cyclophosphamide may leads to lower adverse effects: thrombocytopenia compared with chlorambucil (low certainty).

• Non‐corticosteroid immunosuppressive medications for steroid‐sensitive nephrotic syndrome in children 2020 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.43 [0.21, 0.87]
  1 study · 50 participants
  Low

Unfractionated heparin vs low molecular weight heparin

It is very uncertain whether unfractionated heparin changes thrombocytopenia compared with low molecular weight heparin (very low certainty).

• Pharmacological interventions for preventing clotting of extracorporeal circuits during continuous renal replacement… 2020 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.57 [0.2, 1.63]
  2 studies · 124 participants
  Very low

Unfractionated heparin vs no pharmacological anticoagulation

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Pharmacological interventions for preventing clotting of extracorporeal circuits during continuous renal replacement… 2020 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Citrate vs unfractionated heparin

Citrate showed no clear difference in thrombocytopenia compared with unfractionated heparin (low certainty).

• Pharmacological interventions for preventing clotting of extracorporeal circuits during continuous renal replacement… 2020 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.39 [0.14, 1.03]
  3 studies · 412 participants
  Low

Target of rapamycin inhibitors (TOR‐I) vs calcineurin inhibitors (CNI): secondary outcomes

Target of rapamycin inhibitors (TOR‐I) may leads to higher thrombocytopenia compared with calcineurin inhibitors (CNI): secondary outcomes (low certainty).

• Target of rapamycin inhibitors (TOR‐I; sirolimus and everolimus) for primary immunosuppression in kidney transplant… 2019 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 5.26 [2.87, 9.63]
  4 studies · 593 participants
  Low

Target of rapamycin inhibitors (TOR‐I) vs antimetabolites: secondary outcomes

Target of rapamycin inhibitors (TOR‐I) may leads to lower leucopenia compared with antimetabolites: secondary outcomes (low certainty).

• Target of rapamycin inhibitors (TOR‐I; sirolimus and everolimus) for primary immunosuppression in kidney transplant… 2019 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.43 [0.33, 0.56]
  15 studies · 8396 participants
  Low

Target of rapamycin inhibitors (TOR‐I) vs antimetabolites: secondary outcomes

Target of rapamycin inhibitors (TOR‐I) may leads to higher thrombocytopenia compared with antimetabolites: secondary outcomes (low certainty).

• Target of rapamycin inhibitors (TOR‐I; sirolimus and everolimus) for primary immunosuppression in kidney transplant… 2019 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.96 [1.38, 2.79]
  8 studies · 5028 participants
  Low

Intervention not reported

The intervention showed no clear difference in leucopenia (moderate certainty).

• Target of rapamycin inhibitors (TOR‐I; sirolimus and everolimus) for primary immunosuppression in kidney transplant… 2019 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.99 [0.7, 1.4]
  5 studies · 1012 participants
  Moderate

Low vs higher dose target of rapamycin inhibitor (TOR‐ I): secondary outcomes

Low may leads to lower thrombocytopenia compared with higher dose target of rapamycin inhibitor (TOR‐ I): secondary outcomes (low certainty).

• Target of rapamycin inhibitors (TOR‐I; sirolimus and everolimus) for primary immunosuppression in kidney transplant… 2019 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.58 [0.44, 0.75]
  9 studies · 2242 participants
  Low

Azathioprine vs mycophenolate

Azathioprine (AZA) may leads to higher leucopenia compared with mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) (low certainty).

• Immunosuppressive treatment for proliferative lupus nephritis 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 5.61 [1.68, 18.72]
  3 studies · 412 participants
  Low

Pre‐emptive medication vs prophylaxis

• Pre‐emptive treatment for cytomegalovirus viraemia to prevent cytomegalovirus disease in solid organ transplant… 2013 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  6 studies · 729 participants
  Moderate

Pre‐emptive medication for cytomegalovirus (CMV) viraemia vs placebo/no treatment

• Pre‐emptive treatment for cytomegalovirus viraemia to prevent cytomegalovirus disease in solid organ transplant… 2013 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  2 studies · 114 participants
  Low

Laparoscopic vs open surgical PD catheter insertion

• Catheter insertion techniques for improving catheter function and clinical outcomes in peritoneal dialysis patients 2023 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  5 studies · 383 participants
  GRADE not reported