Prediction of relapse by plasma lipoprotein(a) concentration in children with steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome

Abstract

Aim: To clarify whether plasma lipoproteins, including Lp(a), can predict relapse pattern in the first years after diagnosis of nephrotic syndrome (NS), we evaluated them in patients with steroid-sensitive NS.

Methods: We analyzed the medical records of 35 patients with steroid-sensitive NS who were seen by us from January 1992 to December 1999 followed for at least 1 year. These patients were divided into two groups. Group 1 consisted of 20 patients who infrequently relapse (IR: <2 in 6 months or <3 in a year), group 2 consisted of 15 patients who frequently relapse (FR: > or =2 in 6 months or > or =3 in a year). Clinical and laboratory findings such as age at onset, gender, urinalysis, serum level of total protein, albumin, and concentrations of serum lipid including lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) were investigated between group 1 and group 2.

Results: The concentration of plasma Lp(a) in group 2 was higher than that in group 1 (81.0 +/- 35.2 vs. 35.9 +/- 26.5 mg/dl, p < 0.01). On multivariate analysis using logistic regression model, the concentration of plasma Lp(a) was an independent risk factor for relapse of NS.

Conclusions: Our findings suggest that of all the laboratory data examined, high values of Lp(a) can predict future relapse of NS and should be well documented.