- In children, the causes are largely unknown. However, you do not need to worry about the treatment regardless of whether the cause is known or not. Eighty percent of patients respond well to treatments, while just 20% of this group (only) respond slowly, or poorly.
- Steroids are the standard form of treatment and the first-line treatment considered for treatment. The treatment period lasts for several months, and is adjusted according to the patient’s response to the treatment and prescribed standards. The patient must also be monitored to prevent complications.
- Immunosuppressants is a group of drugs that would be administered if the patient does not respond to steroid treatments within the prescribed time or if there is a poor response to steroids or the patient relapses to the point where steroids can no longer be used, or if there are significant side effects from the steroids. There are many types of immunosuppressants and they are quite costly. Furthermore, a kidney biopsy must be performed before each type of immunosuppressant is considered for use.
- Diuretics can be administered orally or via injection. Whether they are used depends on the severity of the condition, although they are usually considered for patients with substantial swelling.
- Albumin infusions into the vein, in addition to diuretics, are administered to patients with severe symptoms, a lot of swelling, excess fluid in the body, and at risk of serious complications, to ensure patients are in a safe condition and able to continue with the next oral drug treatment.
- In the case of known causes, treatment will proceed accordingly.
- In adults, where causes are largely known, treatment will proceed accordingly, and any congenital conditions will be managed and treated. Other medications that may be considered include drugs to reduce protein in the urine, reduce cholesterol, anticoagulants to prevent clots or an embolism, and steroids also may be used as indicated.
As for whether the condition can be cured, in cases where the causes are known, it depends on how well the symptoms can be managed, whether the causes are curable, or if effective support can be given in accordance with each type of condition and cause. In cases where the causes are unknown, as in the majority of children’s cases, the goal is to ‘manage’ the symptoms, but there will be periodic relapses. In this group, 50% will see a relapse occur in the first year, as is characteristic of the condition, and 80% can experience at least two to three relapses. Once past this phase of frequent relapsing and into adolescence, the frequency of relapses decreases and often stops.
