Comparison of efficacy of single dose versus split dose prednisolone therapy in achieving remission in patients with nephrotic syndrome in children

Abstract

Background: Nephrotic syndrome is a medical problem clinically characterized by proteinuria, generalized body edema and hypercholesterolemia. We did this study to compare the effectiveness of single dose versus split dose prednisolone in achieving remission in patients with nephrotic syndrome in children.
Patients and methods: This open-ended randomized control trial was done in pediatric unit of tertiary care hospital from January to December 2019.We included one hundred Patients of nephrotic syndrome in the study who met the inclusion criteria. We divided total Patients into 2 groups (group A & B) 50 patients in each group. Group A was given single dose prednisolone, while group B was given split dose prednisolone therapy. Both groups were compared with respect of achievement of remission.
Results: Out of 50 patients of group A who were given single dose prednisolone 37 (74%) were male, while in group B who were given split dose prednisolone 22 (44%) were male (p-value=0.137). Mean age of patients of study group A and B was 4.5 ±1.67 years and 4.9 ±1.49 years respectively (p-value=0.1876). Mean serum creatinine level in study group A and B was 0.744±0.189 and 0.736±0.167 (p-value=0.823). Similarly mean serum albumin level in study group A and B was 2.34±0.358 and 2.39±0.33 (p-value=0.473). When both groups were compared with regard to response to treatment, in group A mean remission duration was 16.48 ±3.69. In group B mean remission duration was 19.42 ±3.11 days (p-value<0.05).
Conclusion: From our study we concluded that single dose prednisolone is more effective in achieving remission in steroid sensitive nephrotic syndrome as compared to split dose prednisolone.