title: High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) level in children with nephrotic syndrome.
abstract: The aim of this study was to assess the serum concentration of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) in children with nephrotic syndrome (NS) treated with prednisone and cyclosporine A (CyA). Patients were divided into three groups: (I) 20 NS children (aged 4-14 years) in relapse and examined twice, (A) before treatment and (B) after proteinuria regression (a 3-4 week course of prednisone therapy); (II) 20 children with steroid-dependent or steroid-resistant NS, treated with CyA, also examined twice, (D) before treatment with CyA, (E) 6 months after therapy. A control group (C) consisted of 20 healthy children. Serum hs-CRP level was determined by a nephelometric method with a Behring Nephelometer 100 Analyzer, Dade Behring. The results showed that median hs-CRP concentration was the highest in children with relapsing steroid-sensitive NS before treatment (IA). After proteinuria regression (IB), the hs-CRP level had decreased and did not differ from that of healthy controls (C) (P>0.05). In group II, before CyA administration (IID), the level of hs-CRP was normal, but it had increased after 6 months of treatment (IIE) up to a level six-times higher than that of the control group (P<0.01). We concluded that, in children with steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome in relapse, the serum hs-CRP level is increased but returns to normal after 3-4 weeks of glucocorticoid treatment. In children chronically treated with CyA due to NS, serum hs-CRP level increases significantly during the therapy.
authors.affiliation: 1st Department of Pediatrics, Medical University of Białystok, ul. Waszyngtona 17, 15-274, Białystok, Poland. annwasil@interia.pl
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wasilewska
authors.forename: Walentyna
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zoch-Zwierz
authors.forename: Jolanta
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tobolczyk
authors.forename: Edyta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tenderenda
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D009404:Nephrotic Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012008:Recurrence
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D016572:Cyclosporine; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D011241:Prednisone