title: Bone mineral content in nephrotic children on long-term, alternate-day prednisone therapy.
abstract: Bone mineral content (BMC) was measured by single-photon absorptiometry in 24 children with steroid-dependent, minimal-lesion nephrotic syndrome after 1 to 6.3 years of alternate-day prednisone therapy and in a sex- and age-matched control group. Bone mineral content was -0.002 +/- 1.2 standard deviation scores in patients and 0.3 +/- 1.4 in controls (t = 1.17; P = 0.25). No significant relation was found between BMC in patients and the amount of prednisone taken or the duration of therapy. Alternate-day prednisone therapy at doses usually needed to keep children with steroid-dependent nephrotic syndrome under control does not significantly affect BMC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Second University of Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Polito
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: La Manna
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Todisco
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cimmaruta
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sessa
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pirozzi
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000293:Adolescent; D001827:Body Height; D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects; D002118:Calcium / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006887:Hydroxycholecalciferols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D009404:Nephrotic Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D006887:Hydroxycholecalciferols; D002118:Calcium; D011241:Prednisone