Childhood Nephrotic Syndrome and Steroid Responsiveness: A Single Center Study in South India

The present study was to determine the steroid responsive pattern and as well as the role of cyclophosphamide and cyclosporine in childhood nephrotic syndrome. OBJECTIVES: The present study was designed to carry out the following objectives listed below, to analyse the incidence and prevalence of primary nephrotic syndrome in children up to 14 years of age, to study the clinical and biochemical parameters and the histopathological distribution of different subtypes of nephrotic syndrome and drug response pattern, to assess the responsiveness of corticosteroid therapy given over a period of 24 week according to ISKDC regimen, to assess relapse pattern and remission pattern of nephrotic syndrome in children, to analyse the incidence of steroid resistant nephrotic syndrome in children and to assess usefulness of cyclophosphamide and cyclosporine in steroid resistant nephrotic syndrome. Gender and age distribution, histological features, steroid response pattern, and outcome of nephrotic syndrome were successfully studied. The cure rate was very significant in steroid sensitive nephrotic syndrome patients (SSNS) who were treated with prednisolone. The study shows that both the treatments cyclophosphamide and cyclosporine are effective and well tolerated in the steroid resistant nephrotic syndrome patients (SRNS). The rate of subsequent relapses and remission seems to be lower in patients who received cyclophosphamide than in those treated with prednisolone and cyclosporine.