Nephrotic Syndrome

Nephrotic Syndrome

Prepared byDr Rajesh T EapenATLAS HOSPITALRUWI

Introduction• Nephrotic syndrome (NS)

– Commonest glomerular disease affecting children

– Frequently encountered in general paediatrics

– Characterised by • Significant proteinuria (early morning urine

protein to creatinine ratio > 200mg/mmol) leading to

– Hypoalbuminaemia (plasma albumin of < 25g/l)

Paediatrics and child health 2010;20(1):36-42

Definition

• Manifestation of glomerular disease, characterized by nephrotic range proteinuria and a triad of clinical findings associated with large urinary losses of protein : hypoalbuminaemia , edema and hyperlipidemia

- Nelson Textbook of Paediatrics, Vol 2, 19th Edition, page 1801

Why ‘nephrotic range’

• Defined as – protein excretion of > 40 mg/m2/hr– First morning protein : creatinine ratio of > 2-3 : 1


Incidence (paediatric ) ?

• 2 – 7 cases per 100,000 children per year• Higher in underdeveloped countries (South east Asia )• Occurs at all ages but is most prevalent in

children between the ages 1.5-6 years.• It affects more boys than girls, 2:1 ratio

http://www.kidney.org/site/107/pdf/NephroticSyndrome.pdf

Etiology• Genetic• Secondary

• Idiopathic or Primary

Genetic causes• Finnish type Congenital Nephrotic Syndrome• Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis• Diffuse Mesangial Sclerosis• Denys-Drash Syndrome• Nail – Patella Syndrome• Alport Syndrome• Charcot-Marie-tooth disease• Cockayne syndrome• Laurence-Moon-Beidl-Bardet Syndrome• Galloway-Mowat Syndrome

- Nelson Textbook of Paediatrics, Vol 2, 19th edition, page 1802, table 521-1

Secondary causes• Congenital

– Oligomeganephronia• Infectious

– Hepatitis (B,C) , HIV-1, Malaria, Syphilis, Toxoplasmosis• Inflammatory

– Glomerulonephritis• Immunological

– Castleman Disease, Kimura Disease, Bee sting, Food allergens

• Neoplastic– Lymphoma, Leukemia

• Traumatic ( Drug induced )– Penicillamine, Gold, NSAIDS, Pamidronate, Mercury, Lithium

- Nelson Textbook of Paediatrics, Vol 2,19th edition, page 1802, table 521-1

Idiopathic• Minimal Change disease ( >80 % )• Mesangial proliferation• Focal segmental Glomerulosclerosis• Membranous Nephropathy• Membranoproliferative

glomerulonephritis


Pathophysiology

Complex disturbances in immune system

Genetic Mutations / Mutations in proteins

Extensive effacement of podocyte foot processes

Increased permeability of the glomerular capillary wall

Massive proteinuria

Hypoalbuminaemia

Edema

PATHOPHYSIOLOGY

Clinical Features

alterations

CLINICAL FEATURES

Minimal Change Nephrotic Syndrome

Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis

Membranous Nephropathy

Age ( yr ) 2 - 6 2 - 10 40 - 50

Sex ( M : F ) 2 : 1 1.3 : 1 2 : 1Nephrotic Syndrome

100 % 90 % 80 %

Asymptomatic proteinuria

0 10 % 20 %

Hematuria 10 – 20 % 60 – 80 % 60 %

Hypertension 10 % 20 % early infrequent

Rate of progression to renal failure

Non progressive 10 yrs 50 % in 10 – 20 yrs

Associated Conditions

Usually none None Renal vein thrombosis, SLE, Hepatitis B

- Nelson Textbook of Paediatrics, Vol 2 : page 1803, table 521-2

DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS• Protein losing enteropathy• Hepatic failure• Heart failure• Acute/Chronic Glomerulonephritis• Protein Malnutrition

• < 1 year old• Family history of nephrotic Syndrome• Hypertension• Pulmonary edema• Gross hematuria• Extrarenal findings

Lab Investigations• Urine Examination• Complete Blood Count & Blood picture• Renal parameters :

– Spot Urine Protein : Creatinine ratio– Urinary protein excretion– protein selectivity ratio

• Liver Function Test• Renal Biopsy ???

• Urinalysis - 3+ to 4+ proteinuria• Renal Function

– Spot UPC ratio > 2.0– UPE > 40 mg/m2/hr

• Serum Creatinine – normal or elevated• Serum albumin - < 2.5 gm/dl• Serum Cholesterol/ TGA levels – elevated• Serum Complement levels – Normal or

low


Additional Tests• C3 and antistreptolysin O• Chest X ray and tuberculin test• ANA • Hepatitis B surface antigen

Ghai Essential Paediatrics,8th edition, page 478

Indications for Biopsy• Age below 12 months• Gross or persistent microscopic hematuria• Low blood C3• Hypertension• Impaired renal Function• Failure of steroid therapy

Idiopathic Lab Findings


Raised BUN in 15 – 30 %Highly Selective proteinuria


Raised BUN in 20 – 40 %


MembranoproliferativeGlomerulonephritis

Type I Low C1, C4 , C3 – C9

Type II Normal C1, C4 , Low C3 – C9


Cause Light microscopy

Immunoflorescence Electron Microscopy


Normal Negative Foot process fusion


Focal sclerotic lesions

IgM, C3 in lesions Foot process fusion


Thickened GBM

Fine Granular IgG Sub epithelial deposits

MembranoproliferativeGlomerulonephritis

Type I Thickened GBM, proliferation

Granular IgG, C3 Mesangial and subendothelial deposits

Type II Lobulation C3 only Dense deposits


Management

Initial Episode• High protein diet• Salt moderation• Treatment of infections• If significant edema – diuretics Aldosterone

antagonist ( Furosemide, spironolactone )• Corticosteroid therapy with Prednisolone or

prednisone – ( 2mg/kg per day for 6 weeks followed by 1.5 mg/kg single morning dose on alternate days

for 6 weeks )

Ghai Essential Paediatrics,8th edition, page 476, 477

Subsequent course• Relapse

– Infrequent Relapsers : 3 or less relapses per year

– Frequent Relapsers : 4 or more relapses per year

• Steroid therapy– Steroid dependant : relapse following

dose reduction or discontinuation– Steroid resistant : Partial or no

response to initial treatmentGhai Essential Paediatrics,8th edition, page 479

Management of Relapse• Parent Education• Symptomatic therapy for infections in

case of low grade proteinuria• Persistent proteinuria ( 3 - 4+ ) –

– Prednisolone ( 2mg/kg/day until protein is negative for 3 days ) 1.5 mg/kg on alternate days for 4 weeks )


Frequent Relapses • Alternate Day prednisolone• Steroid sparing agents

– Levamisole ( 2 – 2.5 mg/kg )– Cyclophosphamide ( 2 – 2.5 mg/kg/day)– Mycophenolate Mofetil ( 20 – 25

mg/kg/day )– Cyclosporin ( 4 – 5 mg/kg/day )– Tacrolimus (0.1 – 0.2 mg/kg/day )– Rituximab ( 375mg/m2 IV once a week )


Complications • Edema• Infections• Thrombotic complications• Hypovolaemia and Acute renal Failure• Steroid Toxicity


Steroid Resistant Nephrotic Syndrome• Diagnosis – Lack of response to prednisolone

therapy for 4 weeks• Indication for renal biopsy , BBVS• Etiology

– 10 – 20 % - Genetic ( Mutations in genes encoding podocyte proteins )

• Indications for mutational analysis :– Congenital Nephrotic Syndrome– Family History of SRNS– Sporadic resistance to steroids– Girls with steroid resistant FSGS


Management of SRNS

• Steroids + calcineurin inhibitors + ACE inhibitors / ARBs’ + HMG coenzyme-A + Diuretics


Prognosis• Steroid Responsive NS : Good

prognosis ( MCNS )• Steroid Resistant NS : Poor prognosis

( FSGS )


Congenital Nephrotic Syndrome

• Presents in first 3 months of life• Anasarca, hypoalbuminaemia, oliguria

‘Finnish’ Type Nephrotic Syndrome• Antenatally detectable :

– Raised AFP in maternal serum and amniotic fluid• Complications

– Failure o thrive– Infections– Hypothyroidism– Renal Failure ( 2 – 3 yrs )


Dietary management of ns

A balanced diet, adequate in protein (1.5-2 g/kg) and calories is recommended

Patients with persistent proteinuria should receive 2-2.5 g/kg of protein daily

< 30% calories should be derived from fat and saturated fats avoided

• A ‘no added salt’ diet is advisable in view of the salt and water overload

• There is no evidence for use of a high protein diet

• Children should be encouraged to have a normal healthy diet

• Weight control–In between meal snacks such

as biscuits, crisps, and fizzy (high sugar) drinks should be avoided with low energy alternatives promoted

–Healthy eating advice should again be reinforced

• Steroid resistant nephrotic syndrome–Vitamin supplementation and

iron treatment may also be indicated

–Such children are often hospitalised for long periods and the clinical course may be complicated by diarrhoea and other nosocomial infections from the ward

prognosis

COMPLICATIONS

Due to loss of proteins in the urine

Due to ↓ oncotic pressure

•Immunoglobulin↑susceptibility to infection•antithrombin III and proteins C and S Thromboembolism•vit D–binding protein vit D deficiency•TransferrinIron deficiency anemia

•Hyperlipidaemia•Hypovolemia Acute renal failure•Anasarcarisk of cellulitis, bacterial peritonitis with ascites ,large pleural effusions or pulmonary edema

Healthcare

Nephrotic Syndrome