title: Steroid dependent and independent ocular findings in Iranian children with nephrotic syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to determine steroid dependent and independent ocular abnormalities in children with nephrotic syndrome (NS). Due to the relapsing nature of NS prolonged usage of corticosteroid puts the patients at the risk of ocular side effects of prednisolone. Since published data evaluating both steroid dependent and independent ophthalmic findings in children with NS is scarce, we evaluated ophthalmic findings in this group of patients according to the response to steroid.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study population consisted of 35 patients with steroid-sensitive NS (SSNS) and 40 patients with steroid-resistant NS (SRNS). The patients who aged 2-18 years underwent ophthalmologic examination for steroid dependent and independent ocular abnormalities.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median age of patients was 7.2 years (ranged 1.2-19 years). Forty-seven subjects were men and 28 were women. Patients with SRNS had significantly higher systolic and diastolic blood pressure than patients with SSNS (p < 0.05). Forty-five out of 75 patients (60%) had either steroid dependent or independent ophthalmic symptoms. Twenty percent of the patients had steroid dependent and 29% had steroid independent ocular abnormalities. Posterior subcapsular cataract and myopic astigmatism were the most common steroid dependent and independent ophthalmologic symptoms, respectively
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Steroid independent eye involvements are not uncommon in NS children and should be considered especially in SRNS.
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Department of Pediatric Nephrology, Isfahan Kidney Diseases Research Center, Child Health Promotion Research Center, IUMS, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Alaleh
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gheissari
authors.forename: Hossein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Attarzadeh
authors.forename: Hoda
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sharif
authors.forename: Meraj
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pourhossein
authors.forename: Alireza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Merrikhi