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Idiopathic nephrotic syndrome in New Zealand children, demographic, clinical features, initial management and outcome after twelve‐month follow‐up: Results of a three‐year national surveillance study
Author(s) -
Wong William
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
journal of paediatrics and child health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.631
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1440-1754
pISSN - 1034-4810
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1754.2007.01077.x
Subject(s) - medicine , nephrotic syndrome , incidence (geometry) , pediatrics , confidence interval , idiopathic nephrotic syndrome , proteinuria , kidney , physics , optics
Aim: To describe the demographic, clinical features, steroid response, histopathology and complications of all children diagnosed with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS) in New Zealand over a 3‐year period. Methods: A questionnaire seeking relevant clinical information was sent to all paediatricians who reported a new case of nephrotic syndrome to the New Zealand Paediatric Surveillance Unit. A follow‐up questionnaire was sent to reporting paediatricians after the first 12 months of follow‐up. Results: The incidence was 1.9 children per 100 000 under age 15 years. There was no significant difference in INS between ethnic groups. Approximately 80.4% were steroid responsive with median time to response of 8.4 days and mean time to relapse was 15.1 ± 12.1 weeks (10.1–19.8 95% confidence interval). Follow‐up at 12 months after diagnosis showed that two‐thirds were either steroid dependent or frequent relapsers. Steroid resistance patients had a more variable course with some developing chronic renal failure and other remaining persistently nephrotic. Conclusion: The incidence and outcome of children with INS are similar to overseas studies. A large variety of steroid treatment regimens were noted. Current evidenced‐based guidelines to treat INS were used infrequently.