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IJP Volume 4 Issue 1 Pages 1233-1242
IJP Volume 4 Issue 1 Pages 1233-1242
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Original Article (Pages: 1233-1242)
Results
Mean age at first episode of nephrotic syndrome was 4.1±2.9 years. At the end of the first
immunosuppressive treatment cycle, 14 (51.8%) patients achieved complete remission, 4 (14.8%)
patients achieved partial remission and 9 patients (33.3%) did not achieve remission. Analysis of the
final status of the patients showed that 16 patients (51.6%) developed remission, 5 patients (16%)
continued to have nephrotic range proteinuria and 10 patients (32%) developed chronic renal failure
(CRF).
Conclusion
The treatment of SRNS remains controversial. Early genetic testing can help the inevitable
immunosuppressive treatments which may not be effective and have several side effects. Calcineurin
inhibitors and mycophenolate mofetil are known to be effective immunosuppressive drugs for treating
steroid resistant nephrotic syndrome.
Key Words: Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, Mutations, Steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome.
*Please cite this article as: Renda R, Aydoğ Ö, Bülbül M, Kargın Çakıcı E. Children with Steroid-resistant
Nephrotic Syndrome: a Single-Center Study. Int J Pediatr 2016; 4(1): 1233-42.
*Corresponding Author:
Rahime Renda, MD, Department of Pediatric Nephrology, Antalya Research and Education Hospital, Varlık
Mah. Kazık Karabekir Cad. 07100 Soğuksu/Muratpaşa/Antalya, Turkey. Fax: +90 (242) 249 00 62
Email: rahimeg@yahoo.com
Received date Nov 29, 2015 ; Accepted date: Dec 28, 2015
0-4 months 4
4-12 months 1
13 months-5 years 20
6-12 years 6
Parental consanguinity 13 (41.9%)
Family history of similar disease 5 (16%)
4- DISCUSSION
(10, 11). In the present study, the patients
SRNS constitutes 10%-20% of all cases who have a mutation, age at onset of NS
of idiopathic NS. In majority of children was lower. One third of SRNS cases are
with SRNS the underlying cause cannot be associated with a mutation in genes
determined, whereas one third of patients encoding proteins that negatively affect
had single- genetic defects (2). The present podocyte structure or function (12). The
study aimed to evaluate SRNS patients, in likelihood of a genetic mutation was
terms of demographic characteristics, renal significantly higher in SRNS patients with
biopsy findings, underlying genetic parental consanguinity or a family history
abnormalities, response to treatment, of nephrotic syndrome (14). Among the
relapses, prognosis and complications. present study’s SRNS patients with a
Previous studies reported that NS was disease causing mutation, two had
more common in males than females (4, consanguineous parents and one had a
5). In a study of children in Nigeria by family history of nephrotic syndrome.
Anochie et al. (6) the male-female ratio Renal biopsy is recommended for
was 1:1, whereas Mekahli et al. (7) histological diagnosis of children with
reported a ratio of 1:4 and in the present SRNS and for determining treatment
study it was 1:2. NS emerges most often options and prognosis (15,16). The 3 most
around the age of 2 years and 70%-80% of frequently seen histological findings are
cases occur before age 6 years (8). With FSGS, mesangial proliferation and MCD
increasing age at the time of the first (16). Several recent studies reported that as
episode of NS, the frequency of FSGS the FSGS rate increases, the steroid
increases and the response to steroid response rate decreases (17, 18). The best
treatment decreases (9). In the present example of this was shown in a study by
study mean age at first episode of NS was Balanszak et al. (19), in which 102 patients
4.1±2.9 years; 3.18 years in males, vs. 4.86 were evaluated during 2 distinct time
years in females. These findings are periods (1986-1995 [period 1] and 1996-
similar to those reported earlier in Turkey
2005[ period 2]). Renal biopsy was present study. SRNS patients with multi-
performed in 28 patients during period 1 drug resistance thought there is to be an
and in 44 patients during period 2. During underlying genetic pathology (24).
period 2, the number of patients with MCD Similarly, in the current study SRNS
was lower and the number of those with patients that were multidrug resistant, but
mesangial proliferation and FSGS was not determined to have a genetic mutation
significantly higher, as compared to period or polymorphism, were thought to have an
1. In the present study mesangial undetermined mutation. Among the
proliferation and FSGS were found to be present study, of 4 patients with CNS, 2
significantly high in our patients. had a heterozygous WT1 mutation and a
homozygous LAMB2 mutation; the same
Genetic mutations are frequently seen in
heterozygous mutations were in both
patients with CNS, hereditary NS and
patients’ mothers. The father of the patient
syndromic NS (20). Previous studies have
with Pierson syndrome could not undergo
recommended that to prevent unnecessary
genetic analysis. When evaluated together
use of immunosuppressive drugs and the
with extra-renal findings, the patient with
associated side-effects in SRNS patients,
WT1 heterozygous mutation was
mutation analysis should be conducted,
diagnosed as DDS (25) and the patient
taking into consideration the age at onset
with LAMB2 homozygous mutation was
of NS, renal histopathological findings and
diagnosed as Pierson syndrome (26).
extra-renal anomalies (13,21). Risk factors
for the development of SRNS associated SRNS causes significant morbidity, the
with genetic causes include family history treatment of which is extremely difficult.
of nephrotic syndrome, the occurrence of Pulse IV MPZ was first recommended for
proteinuria during the first year of life, and the treatment of SRNS by Mendoza and
the presence of syndromic SRNS (22). Tune (27) in 1990; however, more recent
studies have reported severe side-effects
After diagnosis of SRNS, the first step is
associated with high-dose, long-term
recommended to perform NPHS1, NPHS2
steroid use. High dose and long-term
and WT1 gene mutation analysis in
steroid administration involves
patients with CNS and NPHS2 and WT1
hospitalization and insufficient response;
gene mutation analysis in patients without
therefore, this treatment is no longer
CNS. In syndromic patients with extra-
recommended (23). In the present study
renal findings specific genes, including
the Mendoza protocol was administered to
LAMB2, SMARCAL1 and LMX1B,
6 patients; of them, one had partial
should be analyzed (23). Reported SRNS
response and five had no response. In
mutation rates varied by country (24).
addition, multiple side-effect of long-term,
Genetic analysis of 110 patients with
high-dose steroid use were noted. Several
SRNS in Spain (22) showed that 33% of
studies reported that alkylating agents are
patients with a family history of nephrotic
highly toxic and not effective for obtaining
syndrome had a genetic mutation, vs. 25%
remission in patients with SRNS (28, 29).
of patients with a negative family history
In the present study CYC was
and that all 15 CNS patients had a
administered to 8 patients, none of which
mutation (NPHS1: n = 12; NPHS2: n = 1;
achieved remission.
WT1: n = 2). In the present study 4
(12.9%) of the 31 patients had mutation CsA has been shown to have a non-
(NPHS2: n = 2; WT1: n = 1; LAMB2: n = immunological, anti-proteinuric effect, in
1); the 2 patients with NPHS2 mutation addition to its immunosuppressive effect
were homozygous. Polymorphism in the (30); in support of this, CsA was shown to
podocin gene was noted in 5 patients in the be effective in SRNS patients with NPHS2
mutation (31) and in patients with genetic testing may prevent the inevitable
hereditary nephritis (32). Remission rates immunosuppressive treatments, which may
of 25%-87% were reported for CsA, which not be effective and have several side
is commonly used drug for treating SRNS effects. Despite the small patient
(33). Similarly, in the present study population, the present study’s findings
remission was achieved in 14 (58.3%) of show that age at the first episode of SRNS,
24 patients treated with CsA, but no parental consanguinity and family history
response was obtained in two NPHS2 of nephrotic syndrome did not have a
homozygous patients. Among patients significant effect on prognosis. The most
treated with CsA, 50%-85% develop important factor that affected morbidity
relapse post CsA treatment and 25%-50% and mortality in the patients with SRNS
of patients develop drug resistance (33). In was the response to immunosuppressive
the present study 12 relapses occurred in 9 treatment. CNI and MMF were effective
of 14 patients that had achieved complete immunosuppressive drugs; however,
remission; 9 of these relapses occurred additional, large-scale prospective and
after termination of CsA treatment. controlled studies are needed to more
clearly determine which are the most
The literature includes only a few studies
effectivness immunosuppressive
on MMF treatment in SRNS patients. A
treatments for SRNS.
Brazilian study that included 52 SRNS
patients treated with MMF reported that 6-CONFLICT OF INTEREST
complete remission was achieved in 12 The authors declare that there are no
patients and partial remission in 19 (34). conflicts of interest.
Gipson et al. (35) treated one group of
SRNS patients with CNI and another 7-FINANCIAL SUPORT: No relevant
group with MMF and oral dexamethasone. financial relationship exists.
Complete or partial remission was noted in
33% of the patients in the MMF group and 8-ACKNOWLEDGMENT
in 45.8% of those in the CNI group. In the We wish to thank Prof. Fatih Özaltın for
present study, 9 patients were treated with his support at the Nephrogenetics
MMF, with a remission rate of 33.3%. Laboratory, Hacettepe University, Ankara-
In total, 15 (48.4%) of the present study’s Turky.
patients did not respond to treatment, NS
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Table 5: The response to the first immunosuppressive treatment and final status of the patients at the last follow-up
n. 1st ISD 2nd ISD 3rd ISD Response to first treatment Relapse frequency Relapse treatment Final status Final treatment Renal biopsy Mutation
1.
Mendoza CR 1 Pulse MPZ CRF CAPD FSGS -
CNI - MMF Renal tx
2. CsA- NR MMF CR CR FSGS NPHS2
Mendoza- NR polymorphism
3. Mendoza- PR CsA CR CR FSGS -
4. Mendoza- NR CsA- NR MMF NR CRF CAPD FSGS -
Ex.
5. CsA- NR 6 months pulse MPZ CR CR FSGS -
6. CsA- NR Mendoza- NR CsA NR CRF Supportivetreatment FSGS -
7. NPHS2
CsA- NR Mendoza- NR CsA PR PR CsA FSGS polymorphism
8. CsA- NR CsA PR PR CsA FSGS -
9. CsA- NR CsA- NR MMF NR NS Supportivetreatment MCD NPHS2
homozygote
10. Mesangial -
CsA- NR CsA CR 1 Pulse MPZ CR Proliferation
11. CsA- NR CsA- NR MMF PR PR MMF FSGS -
12. CsA- NR CsA CR 2 Pulse MPZ PR MMF FSGS NPHS2
CNI - MMF Polymorphism
13. Mesangial
CsA CR CR Proliferation
14. CR 1 Pulse MPZ CR Mesangial NPHS2
CsA proliferation polymorphism
15. CR Pulse MPZ PR MMF FSGS
CsA 1 MMF -
16. CsA- NR MMF NR NS Supportivetreatment MCD -
17. CR 1 Pulse MPZ CR MMF Mesangial -
CsA MMF proliferation
18. Pulse MPZ
CsA CR 1 CNI - MMF NS Supportivetreatment FSGS
19. MMF NR CRF Supportivetreatment Mesangial NPHS2
CsA- NR proliferation homozygote
20. CsA PR PR CsA FSGS -
21. CsA NR CRF Supportivetreatment FSGS -
22. CsA NR NS Supportivetreatment Mesangial -
proliferation
23. CsA CR 3 Pulse MPZ CR FSGS -
CNI
24. CsA- NR MMF NR CRF Supportivetreatment Mesangial NPHS2
proliferation polymorphism
25. CsA CR 1 Pulse MPZ PR CsA FSGS -
CNI
26 CsA- NR MMF NR CRF Supportivetreatment FSGS -
27. CsA- PR MMF CR CR FSGS -