Complications of Children with Nephrotic Syndrome Hospitalized at Imam Hossein Pediatric Hospital, Isfahan, Iran

International studies show that every year, 2-7 new cases of primary nephrotic syndrome in every 100,000 children of under-16-year age occur and its prevalence is 15.7 per 100,0000 children. Nephrotic syndrome is diagnosed with high urinary protein excretion, low blood protein and high blood lipids.

This retrospective study was done to determine the incidence of complications related to nephrotic syndrome in children. All the children with nephrotic syndrome admitted in Imam HosseinPediatric Hospital, Isfahan, Iran, during 2013-2014, entered the study. Information such as age, sex, systolic and diastolic blood pressure (mmHg), length of hospitalization (day), number of relapses, albumin (g/dl), creatinine (g/dl), cholesterol (mg/dl), triglycerides (mg/dl) and urine protein levels (mg/24 hours) and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) (mg/minute) of the patient were collected from their last medical records.

The mean age of patients was 21.8 with a standard deviation of 8.3 years. The most frequent age was 5 years old. 39.3% of patients had increased systolic blood pressure and 36.4% of them had high diastolic blood pressure. In addition, 90.3% of patients had abnormal blood fat (triglycerides or cholesterol increase). 41.9% and 88.4% of patients had impaired albumin and glomerular filtration rates, respectively. 58.0% of patients had +++ proteinuria, as well as 20.2% of them had ++++ proteinuria.

Since the treatment and recovery of patients with nephrotic syndrome is very slow and time-dependent and there is not full recovery, we must recognize the symptoms and prevent progression to symptomatic treatment of the diseases; risk factors should be taken to avoid creating secondary problems, too.