Childhood Nephrotic Syndrome in Africa: Epidemiology, Treatment Trends, and Outcomes

Nephrotic syndrome is a common childhood glomerular disease that is associated with massive proteinuria and edema. Children with nephrotic syndrome are at risk of chronic kidney disease, disease-related complications, and treatment-related complications. Patients with frequently relapsing disease or steroid toxicity may require newer immunosuppressive medications. However, access to these medications is limited in many African countries owing to prohibitive cost, the need for frequent therapeutic drug monitoring, and a lack of appropriate facilities. This narrative review examines the epidemiology of childhood nephrotic syndrome in Africa, including trends in treatment and patient outcomes. In most of North Africa, as well as among White and Indian populations in South Africa, the epidemiology and treatment of childhood nephrotic syndrome closely resembles that of European and North American populations. Historically, secondary causes of nephrotic syndrome (eg, quartan malaria nephropathy and hepatitis B-associated nephropathy) were predominant among Blacks in Africa. Over time, the proportion of secondary cases has decreased, along with rates of steroid resistance. However, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis increasingly has been reported among patients with steroid resistance. There is a need for consensus guidelines for the management of childhood nephrotic syndrome in Africa. Furthermore, establishing an African nephrotic syndrome registry could facilitate monitoring of disease and treatment trends, and provide opportunities for advocacy and research to improve patient outcomes.

Treatment Outcomes of Pediatric Nephrotic Syndrome Patients Treated in Ayder Comprehensive Specialized and Mekelle General Hospitals, Ethiopia

Background

Nephrotic syndrome is a common glomerular disease in children with a relapsing course that leads to complications and steroid-related toxicities. In Ethiopia, data on the outcomes of steroid therapy in pediatric nephrotic syndrome patients are limited.

Objective

The aim of the study was to assess the treatment outcomes of pediatric nephrotic syndrome patients in Ayder Specialized Comprehensive and Mekelle General Hospitals.

Methods

A retrospective study was conducted among children treated for nephrotic syndrome from 2010 to 2017 in Ayder Comprehensive Specialized and Mekelle General Hospitals. Univariate and multivariate logic regression analyses were performed to identify determinants of treatment outcome with a p-value <0.05 considered statistically significant.

Results

A total of 159 pediatric patients treated for nephrotic syndrome in both hospitals were included in this study. The mean age of participants at the initial diagnosis was 5.21 ± 2.66 years. Most of the patients 150 (94.3%) achieved remission within 4 weeks of steroid therapy. Among initial responders, the majority of the patients 117 (78%) encountered relapses of which 65 (40.9%) were developed frequent relapse/steroid-dependent nephrotic syndrome. Also, the majority of patients 102 (64.5%) encountered steroid-related toxicities. The predictors of frequent relapse/steroid-dependent nephrotic syndrome were age of ≤6 years (AOR=3.16; p=0.00), hematuria (AOR=6.74; p=0.00), infection (AOR=3.28; p=0.01), acute renal failure (AOR=6.09; p=0.01), serum albumin below 1.5g/dl (8.38, p=0.01) and lack of remission within 2 weeks (AOR=3.69; p=0.00).

Conclusion

Most of the pediatric NS patients treated in ACSH and MGH have achieved remission with initial to steroid therapy. However, there was a higher relapse rate and steroid-related toxicities among pediatric NS patients who achieved remission. Early age at diagnosis, hematuria, reduced GFR, infection, and remission time were the independent predictors of the frequent relapsing/steroid-dependent nephrotic disease course.