Long-term follow-up of pediatric patients with nephrotic syndrome treated at Hospital Universitario San Vicente de Paúl (Medellín (HUSVP), Colombia), between January 1960 and December 2009

Abstract

Introduction: Nephrotic syndrome (NS) is a glomerular disease that frequently affects children. There have been few studies on it in Colombia.

Objective: To describe the clinical and epidemiological features of children with SN treated at HUSVP between 1960 and 2009.

Methodology: Retrospective and descriptive study.

Results: Steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome was diagnosed in 87.9% of the patients, and between

1.7%-5.4% turned steroid-resistant. Biopsies revealed disease with minimal changes in 43.6% and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis in 37.3%. Additional immunosuppressive therapy was required by 40% of the patients; in 88.8% of these, cyclophosphamide was used, and remission was achieved in 85.7%. In 56% of the cases there were complications that were infectious in 52%. Nine percent of the patients progressed to end-stage renal disease. Mortality rate was 5.7%.

Discussion: The large number of patients with nephrotic syndrome studied in this series and the long period of follow-up (up to 35 years) provide valuable information about the clinical behavior of this syndrome in Colombia and on its response toimmunosuppressive therapy.