Long-term obesity prevalence and linear growth in children with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome: is normal growth and weight control possible with steroid-sparing drugs and low-dose steroids for relapses?

Background: Long-term steroid treatment in children is known to cause obesity and negatively affect growth. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of obesity and overweight and analyze linear growth in children with nephrotic syndrome. Methods: The study involved 265 children treated with glucocorticoids for nephrotic syndrome for a mean duration of 43 months (range: 6–167, IQR: 17, 63.3). Height, weight, and BMI SDS were recorded at each visit. Rate of change between the final and initial height, weight, and BMI was calculated (Δ score). The cumulative steroid dose (mg/kg/day) during follow-up was calculated. Relapses without significant edema were treated with low-dose steroids and steroid-sparing drugs were used in children with steroid dependency/frequent relapses. Results: Mean first BMI SDS was + 1.40 ± 1.30 and final + 0.79 ± 1.30. At initial assessment, 41.4% of the patients were obese (BMI ≥ 95^th percentile) and 19.5% were overweight (BMI 85^th–95^th percentile). At the last clinical visit, 24% were obese and 17% overweight. The children had lower BMI SDS at last clinical visit compared to initial assessment. Mean first height SDS of the cohort was − 0.11 ± 1.22 and final score 0.078 ± 1.14 (p < 0.0001). Almost 85% of patients were treated with steroid-sparing drugs. Conclusions: Our results indicate that children with nephrotic syndrome, despite a need for steroid treatment for active disease, can improve their obesity and overweight and also improve their linear growth from their first to last visit with us. Graphical abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.]