scholarly journals Levamisole in Children with Idiopathic Nephrotic Syndrome: Clinical Efficacy and Pathophysiological Aspects

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 860 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne K. Mühlig ◽  
Jun Young Lee ◽  
Markus J. Kemper ◽  
Andreas Kronbichler ◽  
Jae Won Yang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nephrotic Syndrome ◽  
Idiopathic Nephrotic Syndrome ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Glomerular Diseases ◽  
Steroid Dependency ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Steroid Dependent ◽  
Frequent Relapses ◽  
Steroid Sensitive Nephrotic Syndrome ◽  
Steroid Sensitive

Steroid sensitive nephrotic syndrome is one of the most common pediatric glomerular diseases. Unfortunately, it follows a relapsing and remitting course in the majority of cases, with 50% of all cases relapsing once or even more often. Most children with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome respond initially to steroid therapy, nevertheless repeated courses for patients with relapses induce significant steroid toxicity. Patients with frequent relapses or steroid dependency thus require alternative treatment, such as cyclophosphamide, cyclosporine, tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil, levamisole, or rituximab. To reduce the relapse rate, several drugs have been used. Among these, levamisole has been considered the least toxic and least expensive therapy. Several randomized controlled trials (RCT) showed that levamisole is effective in reducing the relapse risk in steroid sensitive forms of nephrotic syndrome with a low frequency of side effects. Levamisole is a synthetic imidazothiazole derivative with immune-modulatory properties. In this article, we review recent data from randomized trials and observational studies to assess the efficacy of levamisole in frequently relapsing nephrotic syndrome and steroid-dependent nephrotic syndrome.

scholarly journals Recent Update in The Management of Childhood Nephrotic Syndrome

2016 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 26-32 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Imrul Kayes
Keyword(s):  
Nephrotic Syndrome ◽  
Calcineurin Inhibitors ◽  
Clinical Problem ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Optimal Care ◽  
Steroid Dependency ◽  
Steroid Dependent ◽  
Frequent Relapses ◽  
Steroid Sensitive

Nephrotic Syndrome (NS) is a common renal disease seen in children. Children who go into complete remission following treatment with corticosteroids are classified as having steroid sensitive NS. In developed countries over 80% of children with idiopathic NS have steroid sensitive disease. The exact pathogenesis of this condition remains elusive. Podocyte injury and proteinuria are the two main issues in the pathogenesis. Recent studies suggest release of cytokines by T-cells as well as a strong contribution of Bcell immunity. Genetic studies have reported human leucocyte antigen (HLA) class II antigens DR and DQ associations linked to steroid sensitive NS. Most children with steroid sensitive NS have multiple relapses and a significant percentage also develop steroid dependent NS. Diuretic- resistant edema also a clinical problem to manage these patients. These children receive multiple courses of steroids and are at high risk of developing steroid toxicity. Patient with frequent relapses who develop steroid dependency thus require alternative treatment. Steroid resistant NS considers when failure to response within 8 weeks of steroid therapy. Steroids sparing agents used include levamisole, cyclophosphamide, mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), calcineurin inhibitors (cyclosporine and tacrolimus), rituximab and vincristine; these agents have greatly reduced the adverse effects seen with long-term use of steroids; so therapy needs to be individualized to achieve optimal care of each child.J Bangladesh Coll Phys Surg 2016; 34(1): 26-32

scholarly journals Management of idiopathic nephrotic syndrome in childhood

2004 ◽  
Vol 132 (9-10) ◽  
pp. 352-359 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amira Peco-Antic
Keyword(s):  
Nephrotic Syndrome ◽  
Idiopathic Nephrotic Syndrome ◽  
Alkylating Agents ◽  
Oral Prednisone ◽  
Symptomatic Treatment ◽  
Dietary Regimen ◽  
Steroid Resistant ◽  
Steroid Dependent ◽  
Frequent Relapses ◽  
Steroid Sensitive

The management of idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS) in children includes immunosuppressive and symptomatic treatment. The response to corticosteroid therapy is the best prognostic marker of the disease. The majority of children with INS (about 85%) are steroid-sensitive as they normalize proteinuria within 4 weeks of daily, oral prednisone administration. The most of steroid-sensitive patients (94%) has minimal change of nephrotic syndrome, while the majority (80.5%-94.4%) of those who are steroid-resistant has focal segmental glomerulosderosis or mesangioproliferative glomerulonephritis. Initial therapy of INS consists of 60 mg/m2/day prednisone daily for 4 weeks followed by 40 mg/m2 on alternate days for 4 weeks, thereafter decreasing alternate day therapy every month by 25% over the next 4 months. Thus, the overall duration of the initial cortico-steroids course is 6 months that may be significantly protective against the future development of frequent relapses. Approximately 30% of patients experience only one attack and are cured after the first course of therapy; 10-20% have only 3 or 4 steroid-responsive episodes before permanent cure; the remaining 40-50% of patients are frequent relapsers, or steroid-dependent. Standard relapse therapy consists of 60 mg/m2/ day prednisone until urine is protein free for at least 3 days, followed by 40 mg/m2 on alternate days for 4 weeks. The treatment of frequent-relapses and steroid-dependent INS includes several different regimens: maintenance (6 months) alternate steroid therapy just above steroid threshold (0.1-0.5 mg/kg/ 48h), levamisole, alkylating agents (cyclophosphamide or chlorambucil) or cyclosporine. The worse prognosis is expected in steroid-resistant patients who are the most difficult to treat. Renal biopsy should be performed in them. At present, there is no consensus on therapeutic regimen for steroid-resistant patients. The following immunosuppressive drugs have been used with varying success: cyclosporine, intravenous methyl prednisone pulses alone or combined with or followed by alkylating agents, plasma-exchange, and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors. Symptomatic treatment includes: 1) dietary regimen with normal protein intake and salt restriction, 2) calcium and vitamin D are prescribed with steroids, 3) diuretics should be used in case of severe edema, 4) infusion of albumin in case of severe hypovolemia, 5) treatment of hypertension, 6) anticoagulant therapy, and 7) prophylactic antibiotics in high-risk patients.

Steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome: an evidence-based update of immunosuppressive treatment in children

2015 ◽  
Vol 101 (4) ◽  
pp. 404-408 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas Larkins ◽  
Siah Kim ◽  
Jonathan Craig ◽  
Elisabeth Hodson
Keyword(s):  
Nephrotic Syndrome ◽  
Immunosuppressive Agents ◽  
Immunosuppressive Treatment ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
Upper Respiratory Tract ◽  
Glomerular Diseases ◽  
Steroid Dependent ◽  
Steroid Sensitive Nephrotic Syndrome ◽  
Steroid Sensitive ◽  
Risk Of Relapse

Nephrotic syndrome is one of the most common paediatric glomerular diseases, with an incidence of around two per 100 000 children per year. Corticosteroids are the mainstay of treatment, with 85%–90% of children going into remission with an 8-week course of treatment. Unfortunately, nephrotic syndrome follows a relapsing and remitting course in the majority, with 90% relapsing at least once. About half will progress to frequently relapsing nephrotic syndrome (FRNS) or steroid-dependent nephrotic syndrome (SDNS). Different initial steroid regimens have been evaluated since the first trials in Europe and America in the 1960s. Most trials have been designed to evaluate the optimal duration of the initial therapy, rather than different cumulative doses of corticosteroid, or the management of relapses. Until recently, these data suggested that an initial treatment duration of up to 6 months reduced the number of children developing a relapse, without evidence of increased steroid toxicity. Recently, three large, well-designed randomised control trials were published, which demonstrated no significant reduction in risk of relapse or of developing FRNS by extended treatment compared with 2 or 3 months. While there are few trial data to guide the treatment of individual relapses in steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome (SSNS), there is some evidence that a short course of corticosteroid therapy during upper respiratory tract infection may prevent relapse. In patients with FRNS or SDNS who continue to relapse despite low-dose alternate-day steroids a number of non-corticosteroid, steroid-sparing immunosuppressive agents (cyclophosphamide, ciclosporin, tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil, levamisole, rituximab) have been shown to reduce the risk of relapse and of FRNS. However, there are limited head-to-head data to inform which agent should be preferred. In this article, we review recent data from randomised trials to update paediatricians on the current evidence supporting interventions in SSNS.

scholarly journals Lipoprotein (a) as a Predictor of Steroid Dependence in Paediatric Steroid Sensitive Nephrotic Syndrome

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Surupa Basu ◽  
Sushmita Banerjee ◽  
Pranab Roy ◽  
Apurba Ghosh
Keyword(s):  
Nephrotic Syndrome ◽  
First Episode ◽  
Urine Protein ◽  
Lipoprotein A ◽  
Steroid Dependence ◽  
Steroid Dependency ◽  
Steroid Dependent ◽  
Steroid Sensitive ◽  
One Year ◽  
Lipid Parameters

Introduction: Lipoprotein a {Lp(a)} increases in Nephrotic Syndrome (NS). Although the majority of paediatric NS are steroid sensitive, relpase and steroid dependence are commonly seen in this cases. Lp(a) is an LDL-like lipoprotein that consists of an LDL particle to which the glycoprotein apolipoprotein(a) {apo(a)} is attached. Aim: To evaluate the potential of Lp(a), measured on admission, for the prediction of relapse/steroid dependency. Materials and Methods: Children (n=36) with first episode NS were recruited in this prospective observational case-control study and followed up for one year. They were tested at presentation for Lp(a) (mg/dL) and standard tests such as haemoglobin, albumin, protein, cholesterol, triglyceride, and urine protein. Children received standard therapy for NS, and were followed for a period of one year from diagnosis to record days to initial remission, relapse episodes, steroid dependence etc. Patients were categorised as: no relapse (NR), Infrequent Relapse (IFR), frequent relapse (FR) and Steroid Dependent (SD) as per standard definitions. Fifteen healthy volunteers were also tested for lipid profile and Lp(a) levels. Results: Of 36 cases (median age 3 years, 19 males), there were 15NR, 7IFR, 2FR and 12SD. The mean Lp(a) of the NS group (165.2±120.4 mg/dL) was higher than controls (30.52±21.9 mg/dL) (p<0.0001). All the lipid parameters except HDL-cholesterol were significantly higher in the NS group. Within the NS group, Lp(a) showed significant correlation (Spearman-rho) with albumin (p=0.0062,r=0.47), but no correlation with lipid parameters or urine protein. Comparison of Lp(a)levels in the NS groups revealed that the SD patients had a high Lp(a)(222.0±115.7 mg/dL) compared to NR (129.7±120.1 mg/dL) (p=0.02). Conclusion: Concentration of plasma Lp(a) in patients with SDNS was higher compared to patients who did not suffer any relapse, and this concentration may serve as a marker for prediction of SDNS.

scholarly journals A descriptive retrospective study on children with newly diagnosed nephrotic syndrome presented to Tripoli Children Hospital during the period between Jan. to Dec. 2014

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Naziha Ramadan Rhuma ◽  
Awatif S El Boeshi ◽  
Laila T Sabei ◽  
Azza M Kara
Keyword(s):  
Nephrotic Syndrome ◽  
Retrospective Study ◽  
Family History ◽  
Steroid Therapy ◽  
Idiopathic Nephrotic Syndrome ◽  
Newly Diagnosed ◽  
Steroid Sensitive Nephrotic Syndrome ◽  
Steroid Sensitive ◽  
Group 2 ◽  
Group 1

Introduction: Nephrotic syndrome is a clinical picture characterized by severe proteinuria, hypoalbuminemia, edema and hypercholesterolemia. A retrospective study was carried out in order to describe disease pattern in newly diagnosed nephrotic syndrome of children admitted to Tripoli children hospital during the year 2014.Methods: The medical data of 56 patients aged between 1 year and 11 years diagnosed with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome were analysed using SPSS software. The data included gender differences, sensitivity to steroid therapy, relapses during six months of follow up and the effect of variable factors such as family history, hypertension, hematuria, serum urea on the degree of relapse.Results: Out of 56 patients with newly diagnosed nephrotic syndrome (NS), 60.7% were boys and 39.3% were girls, with a mean age 4.2±2.2 years. Age  was related significantly to the response to steroid therapy, where 79.5% of patients aged between 2-8 years (group 1) had steroid sensitive nephrotic syndrome (SSNS) compared with only 41.7% of patients aged less than 2 years or more than 8 years (group 2)  (P<0.001).  Although girls relapsed more than boys (70.5% versus 57.1%) during six months of therapy, this difference was not statistically significant. Similarly, no other factors measured such as family history of NS, hypertension, hematuria, serum complement and urea had any effect on the percentage of relapse in patients with newly diagnosed NS.  Conclusion: NS is one of the commonest reasons for admission to nephrology ward. It is more common in boys than girls. The age at presentation related significantly to the response to steroidal therapy. Regarding relapses, girls seems to relapse more frequent than boys and relapses was seen more in age group 1 than group 2, however, these differences were not significant. Other factors studied seems to have no effect on the relapse rate of children with newly diagnosed NS.Key-words: Idiopathic nephrotic syndrome, Steroid sensitive nephrotic syndrome, Steroid resistant nephrotic syndrome, Proteinuria.

scholarly journals Long term tapering versus standard prednisolone treatment for first episode of childhood nephrotic syndrome: phase III randomised controlled trial and economic evaluation

BMJ ◽  
2019 ◽  
pp. l1800 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas J A Webb ◽  
Rebecca L Woolley ◽  
Tosin Lambe ◽  
Emma Frew ◽  
Elizabeth A Brettell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nephrotic Syndrome ◽  
Confidence Interval ◽  
Immunosuppressive Treatment ◽  
Phase Iii ◽  
Prednisolone Treatment ◽  
Steroid Dependent ◽  
Life Years ◽  
Steroid Sensitive Nephrotic Syndrome ◽  
Steroid Sensitive ◽  
Extended Course

Abstract Objective To determine whether extending initial prednisolone treatment from eight to 16 weeks in children with idiopathic steroid sensitive nephrotic syndrome improves the pattern of disease relapse. Design Double blind, parallel group, phase III randomised placebo controlled trial, including a cost effectiveness analysis. Setting 125 UK National Health Service district general hospitals and tertiary paediatric nephrology centres. Participants 237 children aged 1-14 years with a first episode of steroid sensitive nephrotic syndrome. Interventions Children were randomised to receive an extended 16 week course of prednisolone (total dose 3150 mg/m 2 ) or a standard eight week course of prednisolone (total dose 2240 mg/m 2 ). The drug was supplied as 5 mg tablets alongside matching placebo so that participants in both groups received the same number of tablets at any time point in the study. A minimisation algorithm ensured balanced treatment allocation by ethnicity (South Asian, white, or other) and age (5 years or less, 6 years or more). Main outcome measures The primary outcome measure was time to first relapse over a minimum follow-up of 24 months. Secondary outcome measures were relapse rate, incidence of frequently relapsing nephrotic syndrome and steroid dependent nephrotic syndrome, use of alternative immunosuppressive treatment, rates of adverse events, behavioural change using the Achenbach child behaviour checklist, quality adjusted life years, and cost effectiveness from a healthcare perspective. Analysis was by intention to treat. Results No significant difference was found in time to first relapse (hazard ratio 0.87, 95% confidence interval 0.65 to 1.17, log rank P=0.28) or in the incidence of frequently relapsing nephrotic syndrome (extended course 60/114 (53%) v standard course 55/109 (50%), P=0.75), steroid dependent nephrotic syndrome (48/114 (42%) v 48/109 (44%), P=0.77), or requirement for alternative immunosuppressive treatment (62/114 (54%) v 61/109 (56%), P=0.81). Total prednisolone dose after completion of the trial drug was 6674 mg for the extended course versus 5475 mg for the standard course (P=0.07). There were no statistically significant differences in serious adverse event rates (extended course 19/114 (17%) v standard course 27/109 (25%), P=0.13) or adverse event rates, with the exception of behaviour, which was poorer in the standard course group. Scores on the Achenbach child behaviour checklist did not, however, differ. Extended course treatment was associated with a mean increase in generic quality of life (0.0162 additional quality adjusted life years, 95% confidence interval −0.005 to 0.037) and cost savings (difference −£1673 ($2160; €1930), 95% confidence interval −£3455 to £109). Conclusions Clinical outcomes did not improve when the initial course of prednisolone treatment was extended from eight to 16 weeks in UK children with steroid sensitive nephrotic syndrome. However, evidence was found of a short term health economic benefit through reduced resource use and increased quality of life. Trial registration ISRCTN16645249; EudraCT 2010-022489-29.

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