Characteristics of adverse side effects of corticosteroid therapy in children with nephrotic syndrome and methods of pharmacological correction

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3897/rrpharmacology.5.33831

Abstract

Introduction: The article discusses the issues of the long-term glucocorticosteroid therapy in children with nephrotic syndrome that results in severe adverse side effects.

Methods: This retrospective study included 89 case reports of patients with nephrotic syndrome, aged 1–18, who received treatment at Voronezh Regional Pediatric Hospital №1 in 1999–2014. The children’s BMI Z-score was calculated from neasured height and weight. The authors considered therapeutical complications revealed through clinical-laboratory and instrumentation examination.

Results and discussion: Long-term administration of glucocorticosteroids in patients with steroid-dependent nephrotic syndrome caused overweight and obesity. The patients who had received glucocorticosteroids for 6 months prior to the examination were overweight or obese (78%), had reactive pancreatitis (72%), leukemoid reactions (67%), liver damage (50%), Cushing’s syndrome (44%), chronic gastroduodenitis (33%), hyperglycemia (11%), arterial hypertension (6%), or infectious diseases (6%). The children observed during the period of prolonged remission of nephrotic syndrome had neither overweight, nor obesity or growth failure; signs of chronic gastroduodenitis were observed in 15% of the children.

Conclusion: The long-term glucocorticosteroid therapy in children with nephrotic syndrome caused the excess body weight or obesity and gastro-intestinal disorders. So, proton pump inhibitors should be applied simultaneously with glucocorticosteroids to prevent gastro-intestinal disorders

Keywords:

adverse side effects, children, glucocorticosteroids, nephrotic syndrome

Author Contribution

Galina A. Batishcheva, N.N. Burdenko Voronezh State Medical University

Doctor of Medical Sciences, Full Professor, Head of the Department of Clinical Pharmacology.

Olga A. Zhdanova, N.N. Burdenko Voronezh State Medical University

Doctor of Medical Sciencess, Associate Professor, Department of Clinical Pharmacology.

Tatiana L. Nastausheva, N.N. Burdenko Voronezh State Medical University

Doctor of Medical Sciences, Full Professor, Head of the Department of Hospital and Polyclinic Pediatrics.

Yuri N. Chernov, N.N. Burdenko Voronezh State Medical University

Doctor of Medical Sciences, Full Professor, Department of Clinical Pharmacology.

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Published

27-03-2019

How to Cite

Batishcheva GA, Zhdanova OA, Nastausheva TL, Chernov YN (2019) Characteristics of adverse side effects of corticosteroid therapy in children with nephrotic syndrome and methods of pharmacological correction. Research Results in Pharmacology 5(1): 37–43. https://doi.org/10.3897/rrpharmacology.5.33831

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Section

Review article

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