Minimal change disease and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis in adults: response to steroids and risk of renal failure.

Introduction: There is scarce data on the clinical profile of adult Brazilian patients with nephrotic syndrome caused by minimal change disease (MCD) and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis.

Objective: We evaluated the clinical characteristics and response to treatment in adult patients with nephrotic syndrome having a histological diagnosis of MCD or FSGS.

Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of 50 patients with MCD and 120 with FSGS. All patients were initially treated with steroids. The study outcomes were: steroid responsiveness, prevalence of total remission, progression to chronic renal failure and need of renal replacement therapy due to end-stage renal disease (ESRD).

Results: Initial serum creatinine level was 24% higher among patients with FSGS (p = 0.02), and proteinuria levels were 36% higher in MCD (p < 0.001). Patients with MCD were sensitive to steroid therapy in 80% of the cases, with total remission in 74%, while patients with FSGS were sensitive in 58% (p = 0.01), with total remission in 30% (p = 0.002). Patients with FSGS had an acute renal failure prevalence of 39% (vs. 12%, p = 0.013) and ESRD of 10% (vs. 0%, p < 0.001). Steroid responsiveness reduced in 83% the risk of ESRD (p < 0.001), while total remission was associated to a reduction in risk of 89% (p < 0.001).

Conclusion: A positive response to steroid therapy was the most important factor related with preservation of renal function and FSGS was related with less steroid responsiveness.