ABSTRACT

CONCLUSIONS:

The relapsing rate and clinical outcome are not affected by the cumulative initial steroid dose regimen.

RESULTS:

Cumulative steroid dose was distributed with 1 st quartile, median and 3rd quartile doses of 2300, 2800, and 3300 mg/m2, respectively. Relapsing outcomes and other clinical parameters lacked statistical difference above and below each quartile dosing (p>0,05).

MATERIALS and METHODS:

This retrospective study included 88 NS patients from Erciyes University Pediatric Nephrology Clinic (1982-2018). Causes of secondary NS, age <1 year at diagnosis, and steroid resistance were exclusion criteria. Cumulative induction steroid dose was explored, and dosing quartiles were determined. Total relapses during follow up, time to first relapse and medication with steroid-sparing agent were determined as the parameters for clinical course. Outcomes above and below each quartile were compared using these clinical parameters.

INTRODUCTION:

The optimum dose and duration of steroid therapy for childhood nephrotic syndrome (NS) is controversial. No benefit of increasing the duration of steroid has been shown by recent data. This study was aimed to determine the effects of the dose differences of cumulative induction steroid therapy on the clinical course of NS.