Immunosuppressive therapy in children with primary nephrotic syndrome: single center experience, Karachi, Pakistan

Abstract Background Majority of children with nephrotic syndrome are steroid sensitive, but treatment of difficult to treat nephrotic (frequent relapsing, steroid dependent and steroid resistant) syndrome is challenging. Low dose steroid, levamisole, cyclophosphamide (CPM), mycophenolate mofetil (MM...

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Main Authors: Khemchand Netaram Moorani, Harnam Moolchand Hotchandani, Aasia Mohammad Zubair, Neelesh Chander Lohana, Nanga Ram Veerwani
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2019-07-01
Series:BMC Nephrology
Subjects:
Online Access:http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12882-019-1347-5
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author Khemchand Netaram Moorani
Harnam Moolchand Hotchandani
Aasia Mohammad Zubair
Neelesh Chander Lohana
Nanga Ram Veerwani
author_facet Khemchand Netaram Moorani
Harnam Moolchand Hotchandani
Aasia Mohammad Zubair
Neelesh Chander Lohana
Nanga Ram Veerwani
author_sort Khemchand Netaram Moorani
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Majority of children with nephrotic syndrome are steroid sensitive, but treatment of difficult to treat nephrotic (frequent relapsing, steroid dependent and steroid resistant) syndrome is challenging. Low dose steroid, levamisole, cyclophosphamide (CPM), mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) and calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs) are the common options of treatment. Objective of the study was to determine the response to steroid and alternative immunosuppressive agents (ISAs) in children with difficult nephrotic syndrome (DNS). Methods This is a retrospective cohort study of 176 children with DNS, managed over 12 years at The Kidney Center-Postgraduate Training Institute, Karachi- Pakistan from 2005 to 2017. Initial episode was treated with daily oral prednisolone (OP) for 4–8 weeks followed by alternate day OP for 12–24 weeks. Subsequently low dose OP, levamisole (Leva)and cyclophosphamide was used for frequent relapsing (FR)/ steroid dependent (SD). All with initial steroid resistance and non- responders to leva and or cyclophosphamide were biopsied and treated with CNIs and MMF. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results There were 130(73.86%) children with FR/SD and 46(26.13%) with SRNS. All children with SR (46) and 86 with FR/SD were biopsied. Minimal change disease (60.60%) and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS 23%) were the two common lesions. Majority (73.86%) received single OP whereas divided doses were administered in 26.13% cases. Daily OP was used for 4, 6 and 8 weeks in 61.36,28.4 and10.22% respectively. Steroids were tapered over 3 (31.81%),4 (52.27%) and 6 months (15.90%). Levamisole, CPM, cyclosporin (CS) and MMF were used sequentially in 45, 54.23, 50 and 20% respectively. Combination of MMF and CS was used in 11.29% of cases. Levamisole was effective in 80%, CPM induced complete remission (CR, 57.77%) or partial remission (PR, 22.22%), CS induced CR 46.59% and PR 39.77%. MMF showed PR and CR 69 and 12.82% respectively. At last follow up, 46% were maintaining remission while off treatment, whereas 35% are maintaining remission on therapy,10.23% lost- to-follow, 5.68% progressed to chronic kidney disease. Mortality was 2.84% and it was due to infection and uremia. Conclusion Majority had steroid sensitive MCD. Levamisole and cyclophosphamide were effective in maintaining remission in FR/ SD. FSGS was responsible for resistance to steroid and alternative ISAs. Cyclosporin was effective in inducing remission in SRNS. Mortality was less than 3%.
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spelling doaj.art-ee84827a463b495d972089580d0f2f062022-12-21T19:33:02ZengBMCBMC Nephrology1471-23692019-07-012011810.1186/s12882-019-1347-5Immunosuppressive therapy in children with primary nephrotic syndrome: single center experience, Karachi, PakistanKhemchand Netaram Moorani0Harnam Moolchand Hotchandani1Aasia Mohammad Zubair2Neelesh Chander Lohana3Nanga Ram Veerwani4Department of Pediatric Nephrology, National Institute of Child Health (NICH), Jinnah Sindh Medical UniversityDepartment of Pediatric Nephrology, The Kidney Center Postgraduate Training Institute (TKC-PGTI)Department of Pediatric Nephrology, National Institute of Child Health (NICH), Jinnah Sindh Medical UniversityDepartment of Pediatric Nephrology, The Kidney Center Postgraduate Training Institute (TKC-PGTI)Department of Pediatric Nephrology, The Kidney Center Postgraduate Training Institute (TKC-PGTI)Abstract Background Majority of children with nephrotic syndrome are steroid sensitive, but treatment of difficult to treat nephrotic (frequent relapsing, steroid dependent and steroid resistant) syndrome is challenging. Low dose steroid, levamisole, cyclophosphamide (CPM), mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) and calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs) are the common options of treatment. Objective of the study was to determine the response to steroid and alternative immunosuppressive agents (ISAs) in children with difficult nephrotic syndrome (DNS). Methods This is a retrospective cohort study of 176 children with DNS, managed over 12 years at The Kidney Center-Postgraduate Training Institute, Karachi- Pakistan from 2005 to 2017. Initial episode was treated with daily oral prednisolone (OP) for 4–8 weeks followed by alternate day OP for 12–24 weeks. Subsequently low dose OP, levamisole (Leva)and cyclophosphamide was used for frequent relapsing (FR)/ steroid dependent (SD). All with initial steroid resistance and non- responders to leva and or cyclophosphamide were biopsied and treated with CNIs and MMF. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results There were 130(73.86%) children with FR/SD and 46(26.13%) with SRNS. All children with SR (46) and 86 with FR/SD were biopsied. Minimal change disease (60.60%) and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS 23%) were the two common lesions. Majority (73.86%) received single OP whereas divided doses were administered in 26.13% cases. Daily OP was used for 4, 6 and 8 weeks in 61.36,28.4 and10.22% respectively. Steroids were tapered over 3 (31.81%),4 (52.27%) and 6 months (15.90%). Levamisole, CPM, cyclosporin (CS) and MMF were used sequentially in 45, 54.23, 50 and 20% respectively. Combination of MMF and CS was used in 11.29% of cases. Levamisole was effective in 80%, CPM induced complete remission (CR, 57.77%) or partial remission (PR, 22.22%), CS induced CR 46.59% and PR 39.77%. MMF showed PR and CR 69 and 12.82% respectively. At last follow up, 46% were maintaining remission while off treatment, whereas 35% are maintaining remission on therapy,10.23% lost- to-follow, 5.68% progressed to chronic kidney disease. Mortality was 2.84% and it was due to infection and uremia. Conclusion Majority had steroid sensitive MCD. Levamisole and cyclophosphamide were effective in maintaining remission in FR/ SD. FSGS was responsible for resistance to steroid and alternative ISAs. Cyclosporin was effective in inducing remission in SRNS. Mortality was less than 3%.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12882-019-1347-5Nephrotic syndromeMinimal change diseaseOral prednisoloneLevamisoleCyclophosphamideCyclosporin
spellingShingle Khemchand Netaram Moorani
Harnam Moolchand Hotchandani
Aasia Mohammad Zubair
Neelesh Chander Lohana
Nanga Ram Veerwani
Immunosuppressive therapy in children with primary nephrotic syndrome: single center experience, Karachi, Pakistan
BMC Nephrology
Nephrotic syndrome
Minimal change disease
Oral prednisolone
Levamisole
Cyclophosphamide
Cyclosporin
title Immunosuppressive therapy in children with primary nephrotic syndrome: single center experience, Karachi, Pakistan
title_full Immunosuppressive therapy in children with primary nephrotic syndrome: single center experience, Karachi, Pakistan
title_fullStr Immunosuppressive therapy in children with primary nephrotic syndrome: single center experience, Karachi, Pakistan
title_full_unstemmed Immunosuppressive therapy in children with primary nephrotic syndrome: single center experience, Karachi, Pakistan
title_short Immunosuppressive therapy in children with primary nephrotic syndrome: single center experience, Karachi, Pakistan
title_sort immunosuppressive therapy in children with primary nephrotic syndrome single center experience karachi pakistan
topic Nephrotic syndrome
Minimal change disease
Oral prednisolone
Levamisole
Cyclophosphamide
Cyclosporin
url http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12882-019-1347-5
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