Cyclosporine Utilization in Idiopathic Nephrotic Syndrome in Children

The treatment of steroid-resistant focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) imposes one of the most perplexing and frustrating problems on nephrologists. Cyclosporine A (CsA) is widely considered as the treatment of choice for steroid-resistant or dependent nephrotic children. We reviewed the clinical outcome in children with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS) under CsA treatment. A total of 22 children presented with either steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome (SRNS) (14 children), or steroid-dependent nephrotic syndrome (SDNS) (8 children) during the period from August 2002 to February 2005; the mean age for both groups was 7.6 years ( range: 23months - 15 years). Renal histology showed FSGS in 14(63%) patients, minimal change disease (MCD) in 4(18%), diffuse mesangial glomerulonephritis (MesGN) in three (13.6%), and membranous glomerulonephritis (MGN) in two (6.8%). Treatment with CsA in combination with alternate-day prednisolone induced remission in 15(68%) patients; 9(60%) patients had complete remission and six (40%) had partial remission. Seven (50%) patients in the SRNS group responded to CsA treatment; two (14.2%) patients had complete remission and 5 (35.7%) had partial remission. Seven (87.5%) children in the SDNS group had complete remission and one (13.5%) had partial remission. We conclude that this study demonstrates the efficacy of CsA in inducing remission in the steroid dependent is higher than in the steroid resistant nephrotic children We believe that CsA is probably a good alternative therapy in this population.