Ankle brachial index in children with steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome

ABSTRACT

This study aimed to assess the ankle brachial index [ABI] as a predictor of peripheral arterial diseases [PAD] in children with steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome [NS]. Twenty children [11 males and 9 females] attending the Pediatric Nephrology Outpatient Clinic of El-Minia University Hospital, Egypt, were enrolled in this study. Their age ranged between 5 and 15 years with a mean of 10.75 +/- 3.31 years. They had proteinuria and were dependent on steroid therapy. Twenty healthy age- and sex-matched children served as a control group. All patients and controls underwent a thorough history-taking and clinical examination. All subjects in the study underwent laboratory investigations, including a urine analysis [24-hour test for protein in urine, and levels of serum urea and creatinine, triglycerides, and cholesterol]. A renal biopsy was done to diagnose the children's histopathological type of NS. A Doppler study was done to determine patients' ABI. ABI was significantly higher in the patient group than in the control group [P <0.0001]. There was a negative correlation between ABI and duration of treatment [r value = 0.77 and P <0.001]. ABI is simple non-invasive manoeuvre that can reliably assess arterial stiffness as an early predictor of atherosclerosis in nephrotic patients with long duration of both illness and steroid therapy