REducing STEroids in Relapsing Nephrotic syndrome: the RESTERN study- protocol of a national, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled, non-inferiority intervention study

INTRODUCTION

Oral corticosteroids are the first-line treatment for idiopathic childhood nephrotic syndrome. Most children experience several relapses, needing repeated courses of corticosteroid therapy. This exposes them to side effects and long-term complications. For most patients, long-term prognosis is for complete resolution of the disease over time and maintenance of normal kidney function. Therefore, it is vital to focus on minimising adverse events of the disease and its therapy. Unfortunately, no randomised controlled trials are available to determine the optimal corticosteroid treatment of an infrequent relapse of nephrotic syndrome. Recent studies show that treatment schedules for the first episode can safely be shortened to 2 months. The hypothesis of the REducing STEroids in Relapsing Nephrotic syndrome (RESTERN) study is that a 4-week reduction of alternate-day steroids after inducing remission is effective and safe, reduces steroid exposure by 35% on average and is therefore preferable.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

The RESTERN study is a nationwide, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled, non-inferiority intervention study. Children aged 1-18 years with a relapse of steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome are eligible for this study. Study subjects (n=144) will be randomly assigned to either current standard therapy in the Netherlands or a reduced prednisolone schedule. The primary outcome of the RESTERN study is the time to first relapse after the final prednisolone dose. The secondary outcomes are the number or relapses, progression to frequent relapsing or steroid dependent nephrotic syndrome and the cumulative dosage of prednisolone during the study period.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

This non-inferiority trial will be performed in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki and has been approved by the medical ethical committee of Arnhem-Nijmegen and the Dutch Competent Authority (Central Committee on Research Involving Human Subjects, CCMO). After completion of this study, results will be published in national and international peer-reviewed scientific journals. Papers will be published according to CCMO guidelines. The final report will be made available to trial participants.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NTR5670, EudraCT no 2016-002430-76.

Weekend versus working day: differences in telemetric blood pressure in male Wistar rats

Blood pressure (BP) is a frequently monitored parameter in research. Various methods are used to obtain BP values in animal models, but telemetry is the method of choice because it allows for continuous monitoring in conscious and freely moving animals. However, factors due to the animal facility, like activities and sound, can still influence measurements. We, therefore, retrospectively compared BP values in adult male Wistar rats during working hours with values from non-working days.

Telemetry devices were implanted according to standard protocol. Values were obtained at the age of 6 and 12 months during working hours (Friday 10:00–16:00 h, lights on 06:00–18:00 h) and compared with data from the average of Saturday 10:00–16:00 h and Sunday 10:00–16:00 h, representing non-working days.

Data were available from 12 and 7 rats at 6 months and 12 months of age respectively. Relative differences in heart rate, spontaneous locomotor activity, systolic and diastolic BP were 2.2% ( P<0.001), 32.9% ( P<0.05), 3.2% ( P<0.05) and 3.7% ( P<0.05), respectively, with no differences between the age groups.

We have shown a significant and important difference between BP values obtained during working hours and non-working days using telemetry in adult male Wistar rats. This phenomenon has implications for the interpretation of BP measurements in animals.

Pyuria is absent during urinary tract infections in neutropenic patients

To investigate the diagnostic significance of a normal urine sediment in the work-up for fever of unknown origin in neutropenia. Urinary tract infection was defined as ≥10(5) urinary pathogens in the absence of another focus. Pyuria was found in only 1/23 neutropenic episodes compared to 21/31 in controls (P < 0.0001).

[A boy with cyclic vomiting and an alleged furosemide allergy on the basis of a subpelvic stenosis]

An 8-year-old boy, known with a Diamond-Blackfan anaemia, was admitted to the hospital because of frequent vomiting since 3 days and loin pain. In previous years, he had been admitted several times for the same complaints but no cause had been identified. Ultrasound examination of the abdomen performed at admittance showed dilatation of the left renal pelvis. A renal scintigraphy was discussed with the mother, and she refused the injection of furosemide, because her son was allegedly allergic to furosemide: previous furosemide treatments during blood transfusions for his anaemia had always resulted in stomach-ache and vomiting, which may be attributed, however, to an acute dilatation of the renal pelvis due to the diuretic effect of furosemide. Scintigraphy without furosemide showed a significant obstruction and asymmetric renal function, so a pyeloplasty was performed after which he has been symptom-free. In patients with cyclic vomiting, an intermittent uretero-pelvic junction obstruction should be considered and can only be ruled out when ultrasound during the complaints and renal scintigraphy under adequate hydration and after furosemide are normal.

[Schimke's immuno-osseous dysplasia as an explanation for the rare combination of disproportionately short stature and the nephrotic syndrome]

A 10-year-old Turkish boy with consanguineous parents was presented with a disproportionately short stature and a nephrotic syndrome. The mild form of Schimke's immuno-osseous dysplasia was diagnosed as the common cause. This rare, autosomal recessive osteochondrodysplasia is characterised by spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia, facial dysmorphism, T-cell immunodeficiency and progressive renal failure due to focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. In Schimke's immuno-osseous dysplasia, a severe early-onset form and a milder later-onset form can be distinguished on the basis of the clinical course. The patient was treated by fluid and salt restriction, enalapril and later also losartan, which led to a decrease in the proteinuria and an increase in serum albumin concentration. Two years later, the renal function was still normal.

Craniopagus: the Suriname-Amsterdam conjunction

OBJECTS

A case of a Suriname female occipito-parietal to occipito-parieto-temporal craniopagus twins is described. The girls were transferred to the VU University Medical Center (VUmc) in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, for further diagnostics and to analyze whether surgical separation was feasible and ethically justifiable. The multifactorial aspects of different treatment options are discussed.

METHODS

The twins underwent multiple investigations by a multidisciplinary team. Advanced imaging techniques with 3D-CT scan, MRI and MRA scans, image fusion techniques and, most importantly, cerebral angiography with balloon occlusion tests were performed.

CONCLUSIONS

Because of a shared venous ring, with preferential drainage to the left child, and which endovascular balloon occlusion showed could not be separated, surgical separation of the twins with a fair chance of survival without additional neurological damage and with prospects of a good quality of life was regarded as impossible. In accordance with the parents' wishes, the twins were not separated and offered optimal integral conservative treatment.