All patients, irrespective of randomized group, received concomitant corticosteroid therapy with oral prednisolone and hydroxychloroquine. Angiotensin receptor inhibitors (ACEi)/ angiotensin receptor blocker (ARBs) were given to all patients if the blood pressure remained above or equal to 120 mmHg of systolic blood pressure and 80 mmHg of diastolic blood pressure. If the blood pressure remained persistently high despite the use of ACEi/ARBs, other antihypertensives were added as required to achieve target blood pressure <130/80 mmHg. Oral prednisolone was given at an initial dose of 1 mg/kg with a maximum dose of 60 mg/day. The starting dose of prednisolone was continued for initial one month. Then, the dose of oral prednisolone was tapered at the rate of 10 mg/day every 2 weeks and was maintained at the baseline dose of 5 to 7.5 mg per day then after. Additional intravenous methylprednisolone was given at the beginning of treatment for patients who presented as rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis (RPGN) and who had activity index of more than 8 out of 24 on kidney biopsy irrespective of the randomized group (MMF or CYC) of the patient. The dose of methylprednisolone was 1 gram, which was given after mixing with 100 ml of normal saline and was infused intravenously over 1 hour for 3 days.