A Frequency, Risk Factors, and Outcome of Acute Kidney Injury in Idiopathic Childhood Nephrotic Syndrome: A Systematic Review

Systematic review of Acute kidney injury in childhood nephrotic syndrome

Authors

  • Irshad Ali Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation
  • Dr Sabeeta Khatri Department of Pediatric Nephrology, Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation, Karachi Pakistan
  • Dr Pawan Kumar Department of Pediatric Nephrology, Maternity and Children hospital Buraydah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
  • Dr Habib Qaiser Department of Pediatric Nephrology, Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation, Karachi Pakistan
  • Dr Aasia Zubair Department of Pediatric Nephrology, Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation, Karachi Pakistan
  • Professor Ali Asghar Lanewala Department of Pediatric Nephrology, Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation, Karachi Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53778/pjkd92299

Keywords:

1. Nephrotic syndrome 2. Acute kidney injury and 3. Outcome

Abstract

Background and Objectives:

Idiopathic nephrotic syndrome is a common glomerular disease with a good prognosis in the long term. However, the development of acute kidney injury may complicate the disease course. This systematic review was conducted to evaluate the frequency, risk factors and outcome of AKI in children with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome.

Methods:

PubMed, EMBASE, and CENTRAL were systematically searched from January 1974 to July 2024 for retrospective and prospective observational studies. The systematic review was prospectively registered with PROSPERO and written in compliance with PRISMA guidelines. The quality assessment tool was used to evaluate the quality of included studies.

Results:

Out of 271 identified studies, 14 were included in the systematic review. Most studies were retrospective in design. The most common risk factors for acute kidney injury in children were infections (sepsis, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, pneumonia, and urinary tract infections) and nephrotoxic drug exposure (e.g., nephrotoxic antibiotics, renin-angiotensin modifiers, methylprednisolone, and calcineurin inhibitors). Recovery from AKI occurred in 48–100% of cases, while chronic kidney disease development ranged from 0 - 41.2% and a maximum reported mortality rate of 23%. The quality assessment through NHLBI rated 85% studies as good.

Conclusion:

Acute kidney injury is a relatively frequent and serious complication in children with nephrotic syndrome, often associated with infections and nephrotoxic drug exposure. This systematic review, conducted using a structured approach highlights the need of preventive strategies and further research in this vulnerable population.

Author Biographies

Dr Sabeeta Khatri, Department of Pediatric Nephrology, Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation, Karachi Pakistan

Associate Professor

Dr Pawan Kumar, Department of Pediatric Nephrology, Maternity and Children hospital Buraydah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Consultant Pediatric Nephrologist

Dr Habib Qaiser, Department of Pediatric Nephrology, Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation, Karachi Pakistan

Assistant Professor

Dr Aasia Zubair, Department of Pediatric Nephrology, Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation, Karachi Pakistan

Assistant Professor

Professor Ali Asghar Lanewala, Department of Pediatric Nephrology, Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation, Karachi Pakistan

Professor

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Published

2025-06-30

How to Cite

Ali, I., Khatri, S., Kumar, P., Qaiser, H., Zubair, A., & Lanewala, A. A. (2025). A Frequency, Risk Factors, and Outcome of Acute Kidney Injury in Idiopathic Childhood Nephrotic Syndrome: A Systematic Review: Systematic review of Acute kidney injury in childhood nephrotic syndrome. Pakistan Journal of Kidney Diseases, 9(2), 5–15. https://doi.org/10.53778/pjkd92299