Vitamin D Status and its therapeutic role in Children with Idiopathic Nephrotic Syndrome

Abstract

Idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS) is the most common form of childhood nephrotic syndrome. It is mediated mainly by immunological processes. Based on cytokines and inflammatory markers inducing podocyte changes and hence the heavy proteinuria and the clinical picture (Bagga et al., 2008). Interferon gamma (IFN-) is a proinflammatory cytokine produced by T-cells and natural killer (NK) cells and is a one of the cytokines mediators in INS (Elie et al., 2012 and Zhen et al., 2014). Vitamin D is a multifunctional a steroid hormone which can affect many essential biological functions, ranging from mineral ion metabolism to immune-regulation and protection against autoimmune diseases (Rathi et al., 2011 and Courbebaisse et al., 2009). Its level in patients with NS is mainly affected by loss of both 25 hydroxycholecalciferol and its binding protein in the urine (Motiwala and Wang 2007; Norman and Bouillon, 2010). Changes in vitamin D level in patients with nephrotic syndrome are not well documented especially in Middle East people specifically in Egypt. In the current study we aimed to