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Nephrotic Syndrome and CKD

 |  Dr. Harmeet Riyait  |  24 Views
Nephrotic Syndrome (NS) is a clinical condition characterized by significant proteinuria (>40 mg/m²/hour or >3 g/day), leading to hypoalbuminemia (<30 g/L), hyperlipidemia, and edema. Primary causes include minimal change disease, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, membranous nephropathy, and hereditary nephropathies, while secondary causes include diabetes mellitus, lupus, vasculitis, and infections such as hepatitis B and HIV. In children, minimal change disease is the most frequent cause. Edema is the hallmark clinical feature of NS. Initial treatment typically involves corticosteroids, with a 12-week Prednisone regimen: 60 mg/m²/day for 4 weeks, then 40 mg/m² on alternate days for another 4 weeks, followed by a taper of 5–10 mg/m² per week over 4 weeks. Thorough clinical assessment, including height, weight, blood pressure, and infection screening, is essential before initiating therapy. Patient education and adherence are critical for managing this chronic condition and preventing complications, particularly in outpatient settings where pharmacists can play a key role in supporting compliance.1