English

Abstract

Background/objective- Nephrotic syndrome is a common renal disease worldwide and an important chronic renal disease in children. This study is undertaken to assess clinical presentation, associated complications, investigative profile and therapeutic response in children with nephrotic syndrome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Prospective observational study at pediatric department of our tertiary care hospital. 47 children who were diagnosed to have nephrotic syndrome were included in the study. Cases were noted down into the prestructured proforma with respect to history, examination and investigations. Statistical analysis was done by standard descriptive statistics including Chi-square test and calculating the p value. RESULTS: Children presented between the ages of 2-15 years with mean age at presentation of 7.4 years with male to female ratio of 3.27:1. 36 % of cases presented for the first time and 63% with relapse. All patients presented with puffiness of face and swelling of limbs and genital edema in 31%. Ascites was present in 63% of cases, pleural effusion in 15% of cases and HTN in 12% of cases. Infections were seen in 31% of cases with UTI being the commonest infection noted (25%). On investigation all patients had hypoalbuminemia in the range of 1.3-2.4 gm. /dl and hypercholesterolemia 206-388 mg/dl. Renal function test was normal in all the patients. Microscopic hematuria noted in 10.6 % of cases. Urine protein was 3+ in all cases by sulfosalycylic acid method. Urine total protein in a timed 24 hours sample was in the range of 0.8-7gm/24 hour and mean value was 3.67gm/24 hours. Protein creatinine ratio in a spot sample of urine was in the range of 3-9.8 and mean value was 4.79. Majority of cases (97%) were responders to steroid therapy. CONCLUSION: In our study clinical and laboratory data were in concordance with typical nephrotic syndrome in children. Pattern of nephrotic syndrome and response to treatment did not differ significantly from other studies.