Final height of adults with childhood-onset steroid-responsive idiopathic nephrotic syndrome

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the final stature of adults with childhood-onset steroid-responsive idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS) and the influence of disease-related issues on the achievement of their target heights. We analyzed 60 (41 male) patients and/or their records, with a minimum age of 19 years or at a Tanner's pubertal stage 4 for boys or status postmenarche for girls, and normal glomerular filtration rate. Mean age at first and last consultation was 5.3+/-2.4 years and 20.5+/-3.1 years, respectively. Mean follow-up period was 15.10 years. Mean cumulative dose of prednisone was 1254+/-831.40 mg/kg. Mean initial and final height Z scores (HtZ) were, respectively, -0.60+/-1.0 and -0.64+/-0.92 (p=0.72). The final HtZ showed a significant correlation only with the initial HtZ and the target HtZ (THZ). Six patients achieved a final HtZ below -2, which in male patients correlated strongly to the initial HtZ and THZ. A strong correlation was demonstrated between final HtZ, initial HtZ, and THZ. INS-related issues did not prevent the final stature to reach the predicted target height.