Steroid resistant nephrotic syndrome is sustained remission attainable.

ABSTRACT

A prospective study was undertaken to find out the benefit of immunosuppressive therapy(IV methyl prednisolone followed by oral prednisolone therapy for one year along with six doses of pulse monthly IV cyclophosphamide) in children with steroid resistant nephrotic syndrome. Thirty-four children with steroid resistant nephrotic syndrome were treated with above regime. The remission of the disease was determined at the end of first, second and third year. The above protocol could induce and maintain remission in 81.8% of children with minimal change nephrotic syndrome, 66.7% of children with diffuse mesangial proliferation and in only 16.7% of children with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis at the end of three years of the study. The therapy of IV methyl prednisolone followed by oral prednisolone for one year with 6 monthly pulse IV cyclophosphamide, is beneficial in children with steroid resistant minimal change disease and diffuse mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis. The therapy is not effective in focal segmental glomerulosclerosis.