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Prevalence and Predictors of Bone and Ocular Complications in Children With Steroid-Sensitive Nephrotic Syndrome: A

Kajal Patel1, Mritunjay Kumar1, Swarastra P Singh2

  • 1Paediatrics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Raebareli, Raebareli, IND.

Cureus
|June 22, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Prolonged corticosteroid therapy in children with steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome (SSNS) can lead to reduced bone mineral density (BMD) and vision problems. Regular monitoring of bone health and eye exams is crucial for these children.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Nephrology
  • Endocrinology
  • Ophthalmology

Background:

  • Steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome (SSNS) often requires prolonged corticosteroid treatment.
  • Long-term corticosteroid use may pose risks to bone mineral density (BMD) and ocular health in children.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess BMD and ocular complications in children with SSNS undergoing long-term corticosteroid therapy.
  • To identify factors linked to these complications, particularly steroid exposure.

Main Methods:

  • Cross-sectional observational study involving 50 children (aged 1-18 years) with SSNS treated for over six months.
  • Evaluations included ophthalmologic assessment, biochemical tests, and lumbar spine dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) for BMD.
  • Statistical analysis correlated steroid dose and duration with bone and ocular outcomes.

Main Results:

  • 50% of children had osteopenia, and 6% had osteoporosis.
  • Longer steroid duration correlated with lower BMD (p=0.025).
  • Ocular complications, mainly refractive errors (16%), were linked to longer steroid duration and higher cumulative dose.

Conclusions:

  • Prolonged corticosteroid therapy in SSNS is associated with decreased BMD and ocular issues.
  • Regular monitoring of BMD, vitamin D levels, and ophthalmologic status is recommended for long-term management.

Keywords:
cataractchildrennephrotic syndromeosteopeniasteroid

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