Neurological complications in childhood nephrotic syndrome: A systematic review

Nephrotic syndrome (NS) in childhood can be accompanied by serious neurological complications increasing the morbidity of disease. The study aimed to assess the spectrum of neurological complications in children with in terms of clinical presentation, contributory risk factors, and outcome.

In this systematic review, we searched for articles in PubMed, providing individual patient-level data for any neurological complication in children and adolescents with primary NS, between January 1, 1990 and April 30, 2018.

The search yielded 63 articles, involving 103 patients. Events occurred more frequently during nephrotic state relapses; 71.6% of cerebral thromboembolic (TE) events and 81.2% of posterior reversible encephalopathy (PRES) cases. Median duration of disease before a cerebral TE event was 3 months (IQR 0-27), and 18 months (IQR 1-37.5) for PRES. Among cases with TE, 73.1% presented with cerebral sinovenous thrombosis (CSVT), and 16.9% parenchymal lesions. 70% of patients had a risk factor for neurological complication including NS-associated thrombophilia, hypertension, and treatment with immunosuppressive agents. Outcome was favorable in 93.8% of the patients with PRES. In patients with cerebral TE outcome was favorable in 95.8% of the cases with CSVT only, and in 64.7% of the cases with parenchymal lesions.

Neurological complications may occur in children with primary NS and risk factors during nephrotic state relapses. The outcome for PRES has been reported favorable. Outcome in cerebral TE events may differ by the presence of venous or artery infarct. Recognition of additional protrombotic state risk factors may help to lower the incidence of neurological complications.