Childhood nephrotic syndrome in Enugu, Nigeria

In a prospective study spanning 12 1/2 years (July 1983 to December 1995), 272 children with nephrotic syndrome seen at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital Enugu, Nigeria, were followed up and reviewed at the end of the study period. The demographic, clinical and laboratory features, response to treatment and prognosis were documented. Nephrotic syndrome made up 1.34% of all paediatric admissions. There were 164 males and 108 females giving a male to female ratio of 1.5:1. The ages ranged from 2 to 16 years, with a mean of 7.9 +/- 3.4 years and peak age of 5-7 years. The major clinical features were generalized oedema (100%), hypertension (23%), fever (20%), oliguria (10%) and cough (7%). Haematuria was present in 26%, mean serum albumin was 16 +/- 5, 1 gm/L, serum cholesterol 9.53 +/- 1.6 mmol/L Malaria parasitaemia was present in 38.7% and 9 patients (3.3%) had sickle cell disease (SS). Treatment with diuretics, pooled plasma, prednisolone or cyclophosphamide in various combination achieved 63.9% remission. Mortality was 5.5% being mainly due to chronic renal failure, hypertension and infections. The study calls for more trials in the use of steroids and cyclophosphamide in the treatment of childhood nephrotic syndrome in the tropics.