Hearing Status in Children with Nephrotic Syndrome

Abstract

ephrotic syndrome is a glomerular disease, in which the glomerular capillary wall becomes no longer impermeable to proteins. It is characterized by nephrotic range proteinurea and the triad of clinical findings associated with large urinary losses of protein: hypoalbuminaemia, edema, and hyperlipidaemia. The organs of the inner ear and the kidney are physiologically similar in that both are concerned in maintaining the electrolyte concentration gradient. Children with INS have biochemical impairments which include hyponatremia, hypocalcaemia and hyperlipidemia. These biochemical abnormalities are known to cause hearing impairment. In our study we evaluated hearing status in children with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome in relation to treatment modalities to find out possible modes of hearing impairment. Our study included 80 nephrotic patients and 20 controls. Patients were subdivided according to hearing status into two groups: patients with hearing impairment and patients without hearing impairment. Those who had hearing impairment were divided into two groups: patients with conductive hearing loss and patients with sensorineural hearing loss. The study found that patients with hearing impairment had lower serum albumin, lower serum calcium and proteinurea when compared to patients without hearing impairment. This