title: Steroids combined with levothyroxine to treat children with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome: a retrospective single-center study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The clinical efficacy and safety of low-dose levothyroxine in the treatment of idiopathic nephritic syndrome accompanied by thyroid dysfunction have not been established.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and sixty-four patients were divided into three groups according to the levels of thyroid hormone and treatment. The thyroid status, efficacy and adverse reactions of thyroid treatment were observed in each group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thyroid dysfunction was found in 73 patients. 40 cases were treated with steroids combined with levothyroxine. Proteinuria, cholesterol and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels were significantly higher in patients with thyroid dysfunction, whereas serum albumin and free and total T3 and T4 levels were lower than those of euthyroid patients. The time for proteinuria remission in patients receiving levothyroxine therapy was shorter and their serum albumin higher than for patients without levothyroxine treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Thyroid hormonal changes are related to the degree of both proteinuria and serum albumin in patients with INS. Combined treatment with low-dose levothyroxine supplementation and steroids in children with INS and thyroid dysfunction is associated with reduced proteinuria and increased plasma albumin compared with patients treated with steroids only.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Jianshe Dong Road, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, 450000, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Qing-Yin
authors.initials: QY
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Qing-Jun
authors.initials: QJ
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Yu-Feng
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Hui-Juan
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Wen-Sheng
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Zhai
authors.forename: Xian-Qing
authors.initials: XQ
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Xia
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Meng
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009404:Nephrotic Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013959:Thyroid Diseases / Q000150:complications; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D013974:Thyroxine