Association between serum calcium and biochemical parameters among nephrotic syndrome patients: a case-control study

Abstract

Background Nephrotic syndrome is characterized by proteinuria, hyperlipidemia, and edema. The annual incidence of nephrotic syndrome is 2–7 cases/100,000 children. Methods and results The present study included 32 control, 32 steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome cases, and 32 steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome cases aged ≤ 17 years. Serum samples were handled to check serum albumin, creatinine, calcium, and total cholesterol in SSNS and SRNS. Pearson’s correlation test was performed to investigate the relationship between the parameters. The independent sample t-test was done to compare the mean differences between two parameters by SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences). We found a significant positive correlation in SSNS in serum albumin, creatinine, calcium, and total cholesterol. In SRNS, we did not find a correlation between serum calcium and total cholesterol. Conclusions The combination of serum albumin, creatinine, and total cholesterol with serum calcium improves the diagnostic sensitivity of SSNS and SRNS. Thus, serum calcium may be used as an equivalent marker in the early diagnosis and treatment of nephrotic syndrome in children.