Efficacy and safety of one year of growth hormone therapy in steroid-dependent nephrotic syndrome

OBJECTIVES

To study the efficacy and safety of 1 year of growth hormone (GH) therapy in children with steroid-dependent nephrotic syndrome.

STUDY DESIGN

A prospective pilot, open study in which GH (mean dose 0.32 mg/kg per week) was administered for 1 year to 8 children with steroid-dependent nephrotic syndrome requiring prednisolone (mean dose 0.46 mg/kg per day) to maintain remission. Steroid dependence was defined as recurrence of proteinuria within 2 weeks of discontinuation of prednisolone, or when the dose was lowered below a critical level. At entry, all patients had been steroid dependent for at least 1 year. Anthropometric and bone mineral density measurements after treatment were compared with 1-year pretreatment data.

RESULTS

Pretreatment mean (+/-SD) chronologic age was 12.6 (+/-3.1) years, with a mean bone age of 9.1 (+/-2.0) years, with delayed puberty in five patients. The mean height velocity increased from 3.7 (+/-1.4) to 9.4 (+/-2.1) cm/yr after 1 year of treatment (p < 0.05). The mean height standard deviation score increased from -1.4 (+/-1.6) to -0.3 (+/-1.1), (p < 0.05). In the spine, the mean bone mineral density increased from 0.50 to 0.64 gm/cm2 (p < 0.05), and in the femoral neck, from 0.55 to 0.64 gm/cm2 (p < 0.05) after 1 year of treatment. Mean lean body mass increased from 58.1% to 62.6% (p < 0.01). There were no significant changes in creatinine clearance, fasting glucose, fasting insulin, or glycosylated hemoglobin levels. The mean bone age increased to 11.4 (+/-2.4) years, and pubertal stage advanced in 2 patients.

CONCLUSIONS

One year of GH therapy is effective in improving the height standard deviation score, height velocity, bone mineral density, and lean body mass of children with steroid-dependent nephrotic syndrome. There were no significant adverse effects. However, the bone age accelerated at a greater pace than the height age, and further studies are required to define the role of GH therapy in steroid-dependent nephrotic syndrome.

[Effects of cyclosporin A on the diurnal variation of blood pressure in patients with nephrotic syndrome]

We investigated the hemodynamic, renal, and hormonal effects of cyclosporin A (CyA) treatment (6 mg/kg per day) for 4 weeks in 12 patients with nephrotic syndrome (8 women: 4 men, aged 36-66 years, 3 cases of focal glomerular sclerosis: 9 cases of membranous nephropathy). To evaluate the effects of CyA on the diurnal variation of blood pressure (BP), 24-h non-invasive BP monitoring was performed using model ABPM-630 (Nihon Colin, Tokyo, Japan) before and during CyA treatment. As indices of hemodynamics, intra-arterial pressure was monitored and cardiac output was measured by the dye-dilution technique using a cuvette at 0 and 4 weeks after treatment. CyA ameliorated urinary protein excretion and hypoproteinemia from 3.5 +/- 0.9 to 2.2 +/- 0.7 g/day, and serum protein concentration from 4.9 +/- 0.2 to 5.5 +/- 0.2 g/dl after 4 weeks' treatment. Endogenous creatinine clearance, 24-h urinary sodium excretion, and plasma renin activity decreased significantly at 1 week. CyA treatment raised casual BP from 122 +/- 4/75 +/- 2 to 140 +/- 5/87 +/- 3 mmHg after 1 week and to 146 +/- 4/90 +/- 2 mmHg after 4 weeks. Before treatment 24-h ambulatory BP monitoring showed BP reduction at night (116 +/- 5/68 +/- 3 mmHg) compared to the daytime (124 +/- 5/75 +/- 2 mmHg). The diurnal variation of BP disappeared during CyA treatment; mean daytime and nighttime pressures were 135 +/- 4/81 +/- 2, 132 +/- 5/80 +/- 3 mmHg at 1 week and 139 +/- 5/83 +/- 3, 131 +/- 6/80 +/- 3 mmHg at 4 weeks, respectively. On hemodynamic study; a 4-week treatment with CyA increased mean arterial pressure from 91 +/- 3 to 104 +/- 3 mmHg, total peripheral resistance index from 2.1 +/- 0.1 to 2.5 +/- 0.1 x 10(3) dyne.sec.cm-5.m2, and unchanged heart rate and cardiac index. Serum Mg concentration decreased from 2.1 +/- 0.1 to 1.7 +/- 0.1 mg/dl. These results suggest that CyA-induced hypertension is characterized by the loss of nocturnal decline in blood pressure, which is accompanied by volume retention after 1 week and systemic vasoconstriction after 4 weeks.

[A case of primary antiphospholipid antibody syndrome with severe nephrotic syndrome showing remarkable endothelial cell damage in the capillary lumen]

A 25-year-old woman complained of anasarca and was admitted to Sakura National hospital on the presumptive diagnosis of nephrotic syndrome with 10.7 g of 24-hour urinary protein. At first, lupus nephritis with antiphospholipid antibody syndrome was suspected because of prolongation of APTT, existence of lupus anticoagulant and elevation of serum anticardiolipin antibody titer (IgM) in addition to positive ANA, lymphocytopenia and the biologically false positive test for syphilis (BFPTS). On day 28 of hospitalization, renal biopsy findings revealed severe endocapillary cell damage, such as swelling and proliferation of endothelial cells, fragmentation and double contour of the basement membrane walls, which were located only in the capillary lumens with a few thrombi. Immunofluorescent micrography revealed the absence of specific immunoglobulin or complement deposit. Therefore, the diagnosis of lupus nephritis was negated as these findings were suggestive of characteristic glomerulopathy due to primary antiphospholipid antibody syndrome. She was treated initially with oral prednisolone 60 mg and intravenous infusion of heparin 20,000 units daily. Moreover, cyclophosphamide 750 mg was administered intravenously as pulse therapy on day 13 as her serum level of CH50 had fallen suddenly, and hemodialysis was necessary because her renal function had deteriorated and she was suffering from cough and orthopnea with overhydratin. After the combined therapy, BFPTS disappeared and APTT returned to the normal range: dialysis treatment was not required further after the 4th hemodialysis. Thereafter, renal function improved and complete remission of nephrotic syndrome was obtained. This patient was a case of primary antiphospholipid antibody syndrome in which endothelial cell damage was located exclusively in the capillary lumens and pulse cyclophosphamide therapy in addition to prednisolone and anticoagulant was effective. We present this instructive case to promote understanding of the pathogenesis of primary antiphospholipid antibody syndrome.

Prognostic significance of the early course of minimal change nephrotic syndrome: report of the International Study of Kidney Disease in Children

The ability to predict the course in children with newly diagnosed minimal change nephrotic syndrome (MCNS) may have significant therapeutic implications. Previous attempts based on data available at disease onset have not been successful. Therefore, it was investigated whether characterization of the initial response to adrenocortical steroids and the course during the early months of disease are predictive of the subsequent outcome. Three hundred-eighty-nine children with MCNS, diagnosed at onset, were treated with standard prednisone regimens and monitored for up to 17 yr (mean, 9.4 yr). They were classified, after 8 wk of therapy, as initial responders (complete remission) or initial nonresponders (continued proteinuria). Subsequent classifications included nonrelapsers, infrequent relapsers, and frequent relapsers. At 8 yr of follow-up, 80% of patients were in remission. Three-fourths of initial responders who remained in remission during the first 6-month period after initial therapy (nonrelapsers; 40% of the entire series) either continued in remission during their entire course or relapsed rarely. In contrast, initial relapsers, both frequent and infrequent, achieved a nonrelapsing course only after an average of 3 yr. Unremitting proteinuria during the initial 8 wk of treatment was followed by progression to ESRD in 21%. When proteinuria during the initial 8 wk continued through the subsequent 6 months, progression to renal failure occurred for 35%. Although 95% of children with MCNS do well, 4 to 5% die from complications or undergo progression to ESRD. Documentation of the early course aids in identifying those at increased risk for a poor outcome. More aggressive therapy may be indicated for these individuals.

Treatment of the idiopathic nephrotic syndrome: regimens and outcomes in children and adults

This review compares the biopsy patterns, complications, responses to therapy, and long-term outcomes of idiopathic NS in children and adults. On first examination, distinctions between the pediatric and adult diseases seem more quantitative than absolute. However, underlying determinants of outcome, including immunocompetence, growth, maturity, and senescence, can present very different challenges for pediatricians and internists. The major biopsy patterns in pediatric NS include MCD, FSGS, and DMP. MCD is overwhelmingly the most frequent and most steroid-responsive of the three but commonly presents problems of massive edema, serious bacterial infections, and multiple relapses. Because of the prompt response of pediatric MCD to corticosteroids, steroid resistance in children has generally been defined as persistence of proteinuria after 1 month of daily followed by 1 month of intermittent prednisone administration. By this criterion, nephrotic FSGS is usually steroid-resistant and, if not controlled by more aggressive therapy, typically progresses to ESRD. DMP is commonly steroid-resistant but may slowly resolve. It is not clear to what extent remissions of DMP represent a delayed response to steroids or would have occurred without treatment. Biopsies showing a few globally obsolescent glomeruli or mild mesangial hypercellularity may be associated with greater difficulty in management but have been included in the broad category of MCD. Moreover, evolution of patterns in serial biopsies, variable steroid-responsiveness of FSGS and DMP, and progression of some cases of MCD to ESRD suggest common features in the three major categories. Among adults with idiopathic NS, FSGS is the most frequent biopsy pattern, followed by MN (which is rare in children) and then by MCD. In contrast to its pediatric counterpart, MCD in adults is less regularly and more slowly responsive to corticosteroids and in the elderly is more commonly associated with hypertension and renal failure. MCD in adults is less likely to relapse once remission is achieved. Adults with FSGS present less commonly with severe edema than do children with this lesion. Although children and adults with FSGS present similar challenges of resistance to therapy and loss of renal function, the more aggressive oral steroid regimens used by internists preclude strict comparisons between pediatric and adult series. There is insufficient information to support a systematic analysis of DMP in adults. Cytotoxic agents and cyclosporine have been used with varying success in children and adults with difficult cases of NS. In MCD, an alkylating agent can increase the likelihood and duration of remission. Cyclosporine can also improve control in MCD, but continued treatment is often needed to maintain remission. Significant control of steroid-resistant FSGS has not been achieved with limited courses of an alkylating agent or cyclosporine. Longer courses of either of these immunosuppressants, especially when combined with intermittent steroid administration, can produce more complete and/or more sustained remissions. However, cyclosporine nephrotoxicity is more severe in FSGS than in MCD and in steroid-resistant than in steroid-dependent NS, regardless of biopsy pattern. A protocol combining iv M-P pulses, alternate-day prednisone, and an alkylating agent in steroid-resistant pediatric FSGS has produced the highest percentage of sustained remissions with normal renal function, of all reported regimens. Controlled trials of this and other combined drug protocols are needed in children and adults.

[Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis presenting nephrotic syndrome and acute renal failure in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis]

A 45-year-old woman with rheumatoid arthritis(RA) who developed nephrotic syndrome and acute renal failure was reported. She first noticed polyarthritis in June 1990, and was diagnosed as RA. Since her RA was not controlled with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID), she started taking prednisolone 10 mg daily and received 100 mg of D-penicillamine from October 1990 with improvement of the RA. In March 1991, she noticed edema of the face and legs, at which time massive proteinuria and hematuria were first noted. Because of her nephrosis, she was referred to our hospital for further evaluation. Laboratory investigations revealed 24-hour urine proteinuria of 37 g, serum creatinine, 2.7 mg/dl, blood urea nitrogen, 43.5 mg/dl, total protein, 4.1 g/dl, albumin, 1.5 mg/dl, and total cholesterol, 600 mg/dl. The rheumatoid factor and anti-nuclear antibody were positive. Renal biopsy showed focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). Her nephrotic syndrome and renal dysfunction recovered after the administration of prednisolone at 60 mg/day. The possible pathogenesis of FSGS in patients with RA was discussed.

Selective protein index and clinical features of childhood nephrotic syndrome in Kampala

A cross sectional study was carried out to determine Selective Protein Index (SPI) and relate it to some clinical features that might be useful in deciding on the treatment of children with the nephrotic syndrome in four hospitals in Kampala, Uganda. Radial immunodiffusion technique in commercially prepared plates was used for the determination of SPI. High selective protein index was found in 23 out of 60(38%) and low selective protein index was found in 37 out of 60(62%) of the patients studied. In patients who were not on antihypertensive or diuretic therapy, the clinical features found to be significantly associated with high Selective Protein Index (SPI) were: normal blood pressure and generalised oedema. When these features occurred together in a patient, their positive predictive value for high SPI was found to be 71%. Normal blood pressure and generalised oedema appear to be the clinical features that may be used in combination to select children with nephrotic syndrome who are likely to have high Selective Protein Index and therefore to respond to steroid therapy.

Management of hyperlipidemia in children with refractory nephrotic syndrome: the effect of statin therapy

The efficacy and safety of hydroxymethylglutaric coenzyme A reductase inhibitor (statins) in the treatment of hyperlipidemia were evaluated in 12 infants and children with steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome followed prospectively for 1 to 5 years. All patients experienced a hypolipidemic response with a marked reduction in their total cholesterol (40%), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (44%), and triglyceride levels (33%), but no appreciable change in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Statin therapy was well tolerated without clinical or laboratory adverse effects. In spite of a significant hypolipidemic response to statin therapy there were no changes observed in the degree of proteinuria, hypoalbuminemia, or in the rate of progression to chronic renal failure. Long-term controlled studies with statin therapy are needed to further document or negate their renoprotective role in refractory nephrotic syndrome.

Cyclosporine in the therapy of steroid-resistant idiopathic nephrotic syndrome

Steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome with either minimal changes or focal and segmental glomerular sclerosis on initial biopsy is a severe condition as more than 50% of patients with the disease progress to end-stage renal failure within 10 years. We recently identified a distinct form of idiopathic nephrotic syndrome with an autosomal recessive mode of inheritance and were able to map the gene on the long arm of chromosome 1. The absence of recurrence of the disease after renal transplantation suggest a primary defect in a glomerular basement membrane protein. Several reports suggest that cyclosporine is effective in a proportion of patients with steroid-resistant idiopathic nephrotic syndrome, particularly when used in combination with corticosteroids. There are also data suggesting that high doses of cyclosporine may be necessary in patients with severe hypercholesterolemia. However, cyclosporine treatment should be carefully monitored in view of the high risk of nephrotoxicity, as shown by the results of repeat renal biopsies. The beneficial role of cyclosporine in recurrent steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome is still debated. Preliminary observations suggest that the early use of intravenous cyclosporine may be effective in these patients.

Use of testosterone to prevent cyclophosphamide-induced azoospermia

BACKGROUND

Prepubertal patients receiving chemotherapy are relatively resistant to cyclophosphamide-induced germinal cell alterations.

OBJECTIVE

To study the possible protective effect of testosterone used to inhibit germinal cell activity in men who are receiving cyclophosphamide.

DESIGN

Randomized, clinical trial.

SETTING

University medical center.

PATIENTS

15 patients with the nephrotic syndrome who were treated with cyclophosphamide for 6 to 8 months.

INTERVENTION

Five patients received daily oral cyclophosphamide, five received cyclophosphamide in monthly bolus injections, and five received monthly intravenous boluses of cyclophosphamide plus testosterone (100 mg intramuscularly every 15 days).

MEASUREMENTS

Sperm counts, serum follicle-stimulating hormone levels, and serum luteinizing hormone levels were measured before, during, and after treatment with cyclophosphamide alone or cyclophosphamide plus testosterone.

RESULTS

The 10 patients who did not receive testosterone became azoospermic during cyclophosphamide therapy. In only 1 of the 10 patients did the sperm count return to normal 6 months after discontinuation of therapy. Follicle-stimulating hormone levels were elevated in these patients (mean +/- SE, 19.20 +/- 1.28 IU/L in patients receiving oral cyclophosphamide and 16.04 +/- 2.22 IU/L in patients receiving intravenous cyclophosphamide alone). All 5 patients who received testosterone became azoospermic or severely oligospermic during treatment but had a normal sperm count 6 months after the discontinuation of therapy. In these patients, the mean sperm count was 45.78 +/- 3.89 x 10(6)/mL and follicle-stimulating hormone levels were normal (5.08 +/- 0.56 IU/L).

CONCLUSION

Testosterone given to men before and during an 8-month cycle of cyclophosphamide therapy for the nephrotic syndrome may preserve fertility.

Adenosine deaminase activity in nephrotic syndrome

Cell-mediated immunity (CMI) was evaluated in 40 children with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome and 20 healthy controls. The significantly decreased response to purified protein derivative (PPD)(P < 0.001), absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) (P < 0.02), T-lymphocytes percentage (P < 0.001) and elevated serum adenosine daminase (ADA) activity (P < 0.001) were observed in patients with active nephrotic syndrome (ANS) in comparison to controls. The overall mean values of T-lymphocytes percentage and ADA activity in ANS patients were 73.7 and 213.7 per cent of normal mean, respectively. A significant negative correlation was observed between the two parameters (r = -0.5649, P < 0.001). In remission, the ALC and T-lymphocytes percentage showed significant increase in levels in comparison to their corresponding ANS values (P < 0.05 and P < 0.001, respectively), but the latter remained significantly lower when compared with controls (P < 0.001). The ADA activity did not differ significantly in comparison to corresponding ANS level. Thus, impaired CMI was observed both in active, as well as in remission stage of the disease and ADA activity demonstrated a more pronounced change than other parameters.

HLA-DR7 predicts the response to alkylating agents in steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome

There is a lack of reliable predictors of the response to alkylating agents in children with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (NS). HLA-DR7 is strongly associated with the frequency of relapses in steroid-sensitive NS before cytostatic therapy. We therefore examined retrospectively the time to the first relapse and the incidence of subsequent relapses in 54 HLA-typed children with frequently relapsing NS, after treatment with cyclophosphamide (n = 49) or chlorambucil (n = 5) for 8 or 12 weeks; 38 patients were HLA-DR7 positive and 16 negative with 80% in both groups being steroid dependent. HLA typing was performed using serological or DNA typing methods. Renal biopsy showed minimal glomerular changes. A lower proportion of HLA-DR7 positive than negative patients remained in remission after 3 years (36% vs. 81%, P < 0.02) and 5 years (36% vs. 72%, P < 0.03). In the first 3 years after cytostatic therapy the mean number of prednisone-treated relapses was 1.3/patient per year in HLA-DR7-positive patients compared with 0.4 in negative patients (P < 0.025). There was no statistically significant difference in the proportion of relapse-free patients with and without steroid dependency. The HLA status predicts the response of NS patients to alkylating agents better than the rate of previous relapses.

Antisperm antibodies in prepubertal boys treated with chemotherapy for malignant or non-malignant diseases and in boys with genital tract abnormalities

In several childhood diseases which have the ensuing risk of infertility in adult life because of direct hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis involvement, or as a consequence of therapeutic toxicity, the role of antisperm antibodies (ASA) is rarely addressed. The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence of ASA in a large prepubertal male population (aged 1.2-13 years) consisting of three groups: Group I, 52 patients affected by malignant diseases (lymphoblastic leukaemia, malignant lymphoma, or Wilm's tumour, n = 42), or by nephrotic syndrome (n = 10); Group II, 212 patients with either genital tract abnormalities (cryptorchidism, inguinal hernia, funicular torsion or hypospadias, n = 202), or cystic fibrosis (n = 10); Group III: 100 age-matched normal boys. Group I and II patients were investigated at diagnosis and during or after treatment (drug, radiation or surgical therapy). Group III was used as controls. ASA were detected in sera by the Tray Agglutination Test (TAT) and indirect IgG, IgA and IgM immunobead tests (iIBT). All normal boys were ASA-negative using both tests. Twenty-six out of the 264 patients (9.8%) in Groups I and II were ASA-positive: 23 (8.7%) patients had a positive TAT with a titre of 1:32 to 1:128, whilst 14 (5.3%) had IgG-ASA after iIBT. Eleven patients (4.1%) were ASA-positive in both tests. Of the 26 ASA-positive boys, 24 had genital tract abnormalities (cryptorchidism, testicular torsion, hypospadias) and two had leukaemia with testicular infiltration. Treatment did not modify antibody positivity. Our data confirm that ASA can occur in prepubertal boys, mostly among cases with urogenital pathology, but that it is rare among other cases. Therefore autoimmune reaction against spermatozoa is another factor that should be considered in the evaluation of several conditions in childhood involving reproductive tract alteration and potential impairment of the blood testis (Sertoli cell) barrier.

Pefloxacin in adriamycin induced nephrotic syndrome in the rat

BACKGROUND

Pefloxacin, a fluorinated 4-quinolone, has recently been advocated as a first-line treatment for minimal-change nephropathy (MCN) or focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). To further evaluate this issue we have utilized an animal model resembling human MCN, namely adriamycin-induced nephrotic syndrome in Wistar male rats.

METHODS

Adriamycin at a dose of 7 mg/kg was injected intravenously to all rats at day zero. Rats were divided into two groups: group A (n = 20) given only water served as the control group while group B (n = 19) was administered pefloxacin at 150 mg/kg. At days 7, 14, 21 and 28, the rats were placed in metabolic cages and daily proteinuria determined.

RESULTS

The nephrotic syndrome developed in all rats within 7 days of adriamycin administration. At day 7, proteinuria in group B was 173 +/- 78 vs 423 +/- 626 mg/day in group A, P < 0.02, but thereafter at days 14, 21 and 28, no significant difference in urinary protein excretion was noted.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that in this animal model of NS mimicking human MCN, pefloxacin's antiproteinuric effect is only of a mild and transitory nature. In view of the above data and the overall results in human patients (detailed herein), the use of pefloxacin as definitive treatment of the NS cannot be recommended.

Successful management of steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome using ibuprofen

We report the first case of the use of ibuprofen for the management of steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome. A 41 year-old man with nephrotic syndrome, secondary to focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, had persistent nephrotic range proteinuria despite aggressive treatment with steroids and cyclophosphamide. His steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome resolved rapidly when he was serendipituously started on ibuprofen for the treatment of pericarditis. His proteinuria remained low at about 0.5 g/day over the next two years of treatment with ibuprofen and without any increase in his serum creatinine. He did not receive any ACE inhibitor or calcium channel blocker. An attempt to discontinue ibuprofen resulted in the relapse of his nephrotic syndrome. Upon restarting ibuprofen, his proteinuria decreased to less than 0.5 g/day again. We conclude that ibuprofen has been effective and safe for the management of nephrotic syndrome in this patient. However, careful monitoring is prudent to assess the potential adverse effects of ibuprofen on renal function with prolonged use.

The effect of alternate-day low dose prednisolone on bone age in children with steroid dependent nephrotic syndrome

Radius, ulna, short bones (RUS), carpal (CARP) bone age (BA), tibial cortico-diaphyseal (C/D) ratio and trabecular aspect were assessed in 19 children with steroid dependent nephrotic syndrome and 15 age matched healthy children. Both RUS and CARP BA were significantly lower than in the controls. Trabecular aspect and tibial C/D ratio did not show any statistical significance. There was a positive correlation between HSDS and RUS BA delay (r = -0.476, p < 0.05); CARP BA delay and RUS BA delay (r = 0.563, p < 0.01) and RUS BA and CARP BA (r = 0.891, p < 0.001). In conclusion, RUS and CARP BA are both retarded and positively correlated in steroid dependent nephrotic children.