EVALUATION OF INTERLEUKIN-1β INTERLEUKIN- 6, TUMOUR NECROSIS FACTOR-α AND β2- MICROGLOBULIN IN CHILDREN AFFECTED WITH PRIMARY IDIOPATHIC NEPHROTIC SYNDROME

Abstract

Minimal change nephrotic syndrome is the most common form of the nephrotic syndrome occurring in children. The etiology and underlying defects in the glomerulus remain largely unknown. In recent years, several of the newly discovered cytokines have been implicated in the pathogenesis of renal disease. Their exact role, however, remains obscure. The current study was designed to evaluate the role of the j cytokines interleukin-1f3, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor and the urinary protein f32-microglobulin in the children affected by minimal change nephrotic syndrome.

Our study comprised 80 children. They were divided into 4 groups: I. Twenty children suffering from minimal change nephrotic syndrome for the first time.

2. Twenty children who recently had nephrotic syndrome and are now in remission for less than three months. 3. Twenty children having a relapse of the disease, they were examined before reinstitution of therapy. 4. Twenty healthy children were included as a control.

The children were subjected to a thorough clinical examination to make sure they met the criteria for the study. A set of laboratory investigation was performed to assess the renal function (blood urea, serum creatinine), in addition to the complete blood picture. Specific tests for serum interleukin-1f3, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor and urinary f32-microglobulin were performed using the ELISA technique. The

results were tabulated and subjected to several statistical tests including the F test, Kruskall-Wallis test and multiple logistic regression analysis.