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Background: Some children with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (NS) patients fail to respond even when given high dose of steroid. The aim of this study was to assess the GCR expression on the T lymphocytes of children with NS and its relation to the response to steroid and to histopathological type. Methods: Forty-six pediatric patients with idiopathic NS and 20 age and sex matched apparently healthy children as controls were included. Flow cytometry was employed to determine the percentage of CD3+/GCR+ cells which then correlated with pattern of steroid response. Renal biopsy was done for steroid-dependent and steroid-resistant cases for determination of the underlying histopathological type. Results: The mean percentage of T lymphocyte expression of GCRs (CD3+/GCR) was significantly higher in early steroid responders than in late responders and was slightly lower than the controls. There was a significantly lower GCRs expression in steroid-resistant patients in comparison to early responders, late responders and controls. Renal biopsy showed that most cases of late responders were of the focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) type. The mean percentage of lymphocyte expression of GCRs was significantly higher in patients with minimal change disease (MCD) compared to patients with FSGS. Conclusion: Evaluation of the expression of intracellular GCRs in T lymphocytes at time of diagnosis of NS can predict the response to steroid therapy and can help in determination of the outcome of NS patients regarding future relapses.

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Glucocorticoids are primary therapy of idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS). However, not all children respond to steroid therapy. We assessed glomerular glucocorticoid receptor expression in fifty-one children with INS and its relation to response to steroid therapy and to histopathological type. Clinical, laboratory and glomerular expression of glucocorticoid receptors were compared between groups with different steroid response. Glomerular glucocorticoid expression was slightly higher in controls than in minimal change early responders, which in turn was significantly higher than in minimal change late responders. There was significantly lower glomerular glucocorticoid receptor expression in steroid-resistance compared to early responders, late responders and controls. Glomerular glucocorticoid expression was significantly higher in all minimal change disease (MCD) compared to focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. In INS, response to glucocorticoid is dependent on glomerular expression of receptors and peripheral expression. Evaluation of glomerular glucocorticoid receptor expression at time of diagnosis of NS can predict response to steroid therapy.