A Clinical Study of Nephrotic Syndrome with Special Reference to Serum Lipid Profile

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Nephrotic syndrome is an important chronic renal disease in children characterized by minimal change disease in the majority. The objectives of present study were: (1) To study the clinical features of nephrotic syndrome. (2) To study the levels of serum cholesterol, serum triglycerides, HDL, LDL and VLDL in nephritic syndrome. METHODOLOGY A prospective study which included 50 children with nephrotic syndrome, aged between 2-12 years. They were clinically examined and lipid profile was done at the onset and during remission. Thirty children without liver and kidney disorders were taken as controls. RESULTS Among 50 cases studied, maximum number of cases (60 %) were in the age group of 2-6 years.29 (58 %) were male and 21 (42 %) were female with male: female ratio of 1.38: 1. Generalised edema was present in all cases (100 %), abdominal distension in 40 (80 %) cases and decreased urine output in 23 (46 %) cases. Ascites was present in 40 (80 %) cases. Hypoproteinemia and hypoalbuminemia was present in all patients (100 %). Serum globulins were normal in all patients. Mean serum total proteins and serum albumin were significantly (.000) lower in study group compared to control group. There was highly significant (p =.000) increase in mean serum cholesterol (420.32 122.69 mg/dL), Triglycerides (297.90 93.09 mg/dL), LDL (323.75 100.98 mg/dL) and VLDL (61.79 19.78 mg/dL). However, there was no significant (p =.234) change in HDL cholesterol. In relapse cases of nephrotic syndrome there was significantly higher serum cholesterol (p =.000), Triglycerides (p =.003), LDL (p = 0.000) and VLDL (p =.011) when compared to first episode. INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSION The present study shows that in nephrotic syndrome, there is generalised hyperlipidemia. There was significantly higher hyperlipidemia in relapse cases compared to first episode nephrotic syndrome.