Influence of prednisone therapy on physical development of children with nephrotic syndrome

THE AIM: to compare the parameters of physical development (PD) in children with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS), depending on the treatment with prednisone. PATIENTS AND METHODS. The effect of treatment with prednisone on PD was analyzed in 60 children with INS aged from 2 to 17 years. The children were divided into 2 groups: 30 children who did not receive prednisone, and 30 children who received it during the last 6 months before the study (1st and 2nd group, respectively). The groups compared the anamnestic parameters and the risk factors of children in terms of length, weight, and body mass index. RESULTS. When comparing the characteristics of the risk factors of children of the above 2 groups, differences in body mass and BMI were established. In children who received prednisone for the last 6 months, body weight and BMI were significantly exceeded compared to WHO standards and similar patients who did not receive prednisone for the last 6 months. We have established a reliable association of the Z-BMI criterion with the cumulative dose of prednisone in the last 6 months: r = 0.49, p <0.05. At the same time, no reliable association of body weight with a cumulative dose of prednisone, which the child received before 6 months, has been identified. When analyzing the effectiveness of different doses of prednisone therapy for stopping relapses in children with steroid-sensitive INS, it was found that the onset and duration of remission did not significantly differ when taking standard (60mg/m 2 /day or 2 mg/kg/day) and half as much (1mg/kg/day) doses of prednisone. CONCLUSION. The relationship of the body mass of children with INS and the cumulative dose of prednisone in the last 6 months has been established. When treating a recurrent steroid-sensitive non-relapsing INS, a decrease in the daily dose of prednisone from 2 mg/kg/day to 1 mg/kg/day is possible in adolescents who are afraid of steroid obesity or who have had severe complications during previous courses of prednisone therapy.