The Journal of pediatrics
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The Journal of pediatrics · Mar 1986
Role of respiratory viruses in exacerbations of primary nephrotic syndrome.
To determine whether respiratory virus infections (URI) are associated with exacerbation of nephrotic syndrome (NS) in childhood, a prospective two-winter study of 32 children with NS was done. We obtained pre- and post-season viral serologic studies, biweekly nose and throat viral cultures, daily urinalysis, biweekly telephone follow-up for URI and renal complaints, and clinical assessments as indicated. When a URI occurred, viral cultures were done weekly if the child was at home and twice weekly if hospitalized. ⋯ Exacerbations in patients with minimal change, mesangioproliferative, and focal glomerulosclerosis occurred in 40%, 60%, and 64%, respectively. We conclude that exacerbations and relapses of childhood NS are temporally related to URI. Inasmuch as multiple viral agents were associated with exacerbations, nonspecific host response to infection, not viral antigen or antibody response, may be the link to NS.