Cytotoxic treatment in children with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome

The purpose of this retrospective study was to investigate the therapeutic value of steroids and cytotoxics in children with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome which developed during the period 1968-1977. Thirty-eight patients were followed. They were divided into three morphological groups based on renal biopsy findings, i.e., minimal changes (MCNS, n = 34), focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS, n=2) and atypical undefined changes (Undef., n=2). In the latter two groups therapy was less successful than in the MCNS-group. This study conclusively demonstrates that cytotoxic therapy is of value in prolonging the duration of the remission and increasing the responsiveness to steroids in children with MCNS.