Frequency of Relapse in Nephrotic Syndrome Children Treated with Prednisolone

Abstract

Background: Relapsing-remitting idiopathic nephrotic syndrome is a childhood disorder that presents with a 20-30% lifetime occurrence rate of a single episode, while the remaining individuals experience relapses.

Objective: Investigate the correlation between demographic and biochemical factors and the occurrence of relapses in children who are responsive to prednisolone.

Patients and Methods: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted at the Kerbala Teaching Hospital for Children in Iraq, spanning from August 1st to November 2023. There was a correlation between relapse and factors such as gender, age, albumin serum level, total cholesterol level and proteinuria.

Results: Out of the 80 children diagnosed with steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome, 15 (18.8%) didn't experience any relapses, 44 (55%) had infrequent relapses and 21 (26.2%) had frequent relapses. The patients' ages ranged from one to sixteen years. The male population accounted for 54% of the total, and the female population accounted for 26%. There were no significant differences in age, gender and blood cholesterol levels between the different groups (p values 0.224, 0.488 & 0.319, respectively). A strong positive relationship was found between low levels of serum albumin, proteinuria and recurring relapses (with p-values of 0.016 and 0.042, respectively).

Conclusion: There was a significant correlation between relapses and reduced levels of serum albumin and proteinuria.