Table 1.
Epidemiological, clinical and laboratory parameters of pediatric patients at onset of idiopathic nephrotic syndrome
| Characteristics of patient cohort | Number of patients for which specific data were available | Total patient cohort (n = 231) | Pediatric units (n = 135)a | Pediatric nephrology units (n = 96)a | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age at diagnosis (year) | 231 | 4.7 ± 3.06 | 5.05 ± 3.1 | 4.2 ± 2.6 | |
| Sex (male:female) | 231 | 157:74 (68 %:32 %) | 88:47 (65 %:35 %) | 69:27 (72 %:28 %) | |
| Race | 231 | ||||
| Caucasian | 196 | 106 | 90 | ||
| Asian | 6 | 5 | 1 | ||
| African | 16 | 12 | 4 | ||
| Hispanic | 7 | 7 | 0 | ||
| Arabian | 6 | 5 | 1 | ||
| Season (autumn/winter vs. spring/summer | 231 | 115:116 | 74:68 | 41:48 | |
| Clinical characteristics (SDS) | |||||
| Height | 231 | −0.08 ± 1.06 | −0.01 ± 1.08 | −0.2 ± 1 | |
| Weight | 231 | 0.5 ± 1.05 | 0.56 ± 0,95 | 0.5 ± 1.2 | |
| BMI | 231 | 0.74 ± 0.94 | 0.77 ± 0.94 | 0.7 ± 0.9 | |
| Systolic blood pressure | 197 | 1.05 ± 1.1 8 | 1.17 ± 1.04 | 0.9 ± 1.3 | |
| Diastolic blood pressure | 196 | 1.23 ± 0.9 | 1.26 ± 0.81 | 1.2 ± 1.1 | |
| Urine output (mL/kg/h) | 1.4 ± 1.0 | 1.3 ± 0.9 | 1.7 ± 1.2 | ||
| Laboratory data | |||||
| Urea (mg/dL) | 212 | 29.6 ± 14 | 29.2 ± 14.2 | 30.3 ± 13.8 | |
| Creatinine (mg/dL) | 212 | 0.35 ± 0.15 | 0.35 ± 0.15 | 0.4 ± 0.2 | |
| Uricemia (mg/dL) | 88 | 4.2 ± 1.1 | 4.45 ± 1.0 | 4.0 ± 1.1 | |
| Total proteins (g/dL) | 212 | 4.2 ± 0.7 | 4.2 ± 0.7 | 4.2 ± 0.7 | |
| Albumin (g/dL) | 169 | 1.4 ± 0.4 | 1.4 ± 0.4 | 1.4 ± 0.4 | |
| Alpha-2- globulin (%) | 112 | 29.8 ± 12.5 | 30.2 ± 12.8 | 29.8 ± 12.4 | |
| Gamma-globulin (%) | 141 | 7.3 ± 2.3 | 7.2 ± 2.4 | 7.5 ± 2.1 | |
| Total cholesterol (mg/dL) | 208 | 401 ± 100.3 | 414 ± 103.8 | 381.3 ± 92 | |
| Triglycerides (mg/dL) | 183 | 211 ± 133 | 216 ± 144 | 205.5 ± 117.3 | |
| Na (mmol/L) | 206 | 136 ± 3.2 | 136.1 ± 3.1 | 136.1 ± 3.6 | |
| K (mmol/L) | 206 | 4.5 ± 0.5 | 4.5 ± 0.5 | 4.6 ± 0.6 | |
| Ca (mg/dL) | 199 | 8.1 ± 0.7 | 8.1 ± 0.6 | 8.3 ± 0.8 | |
| P (mg/dL) | 149 | 5 ± 1 | 4.9 ± 1 | 5.2 ± 1.1 | |
| Fibrinogen (mg/dL) | 143 | 659 ± 1,240 | 702,4 ± 232,2 | 587.3 ± 236.7 | |
| Antithrombin III (activity %) | 66 | 69.5 ± 24.2 | 63,4 ± 2.5 | 80 ± 25.6 | |
| Platelets (×103/μL) | 207 | 432 ± 131 | 412.2 ± 137.1 | 463.3 ± 116.8 | |
| PrU/CrU (mg/mg) | 112 | 10.8 ± 7.55 | 10.5 ± 7.1 | 11.3 ± 8.2 | |
| Microhematuria (yes) | 231 | 94 (41 %) | 49 (36 %) | 45 (47 %) | |
SDS, Standard deviation score; BMI, body mass index; PrU/CrU, urinary protein/creatinine ratio
Data in table are presented as the number of patients with the percentage in parenthesis, or as the mean ± standard deviation. All data refer to data collected at initial admission
aNo differences were found between the two groups of patients [pediatric unit (PU) and pediatric nephrology unit (PNU)], apart from age at diagnosis (p = 0.042)