title: The predictive factors for relapses in children with steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome.
abstract: Most patients with steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome (SSNS) have frequent relapses (FR); this is considered one of the main problems because of its association with a high incidence of complications. The aim of our study was to evaluate the different factors that might be associated with the occurrence of relapse in SSNS. This is a retrospective study of 80 patients with SSNS conducted at the Pediatric Nephrology Clinic in the Al-Kadhymia Teaching Hospital between January 2011 and November 2011. The study patients were divided into two groups: FR and infrequent relapses (IFR). The age of the study patients was between one and 14 years; 45 patients had FR (56.3%) and 35 patients had IFR (43.7%). Males constituted 55 patients (68.7%) and 25 patients were female (31.3%). The incidence of FR was high in all age-groups, except in the 1-5 years age-group, and was higher in children living in urban areas. There was no significant difference between the two groups in age, gender, place of residence and renal functions. However, there was a significant difference in the presence of hematuria, time taken to respond to therapy and duration of steroid therapy required; all were higher in the FR group. Our results will help clinicians in identifying possible FR such that they may be monitored closely.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Al-Nahrain University, Baghdad, Iraq.
authors.forename: Shatha Hussain
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.forename: Abdulkareem Mohammed
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.forename: Abbas Hindi
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Najim
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005919:Glomerular Filtration Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007493:Iraq / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D009404:Nephrotic Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D003404:Creatinine; D011241:Prednisone