Clinical Profile and Outcomes of Nephrotic Syndrome With Acute Kidney Injury in Adults: A Prospective Cohort Study

Background: Nephrotic syndrome (NS) is characterized by various clinicopathological conditions like proteinuria, hypoalbuminemia, and anasarca. Patients with NS are prone to experience associated problems like acute kidney injury (AKI). The present study aimed to investigate the clinical profile and outcomes of NS with AKI in adults. Materials and methods: This prospective, observational study was conducted over a period of one year. Adult patients with NS diagnosed with AKI were enrolled in the study. Data were collected at baseline and patients were followed up for at least three months. Results: A total of 60 patients were enrolled. The majority of the patients (78.3%) were aged between 18 and 30 years. Anemia was observed among 96.7% of the patients. A significant improvement was observed in the mean levels of proteinuria (5.80 vs. 1.70 gm/dL; P < 0.001), total cholesterol (270.00 mg/dL vs. 160.00 mg/dL), serum creatinine (2.18 mg/dL vs. 1.68 mg/dL; P < 0.001), and serum albumin (1.86 gm/dL vs. 3.29 gm/dL; P < 0.001) at baseline to three months. Pre-renal AKI was diagnosed in 95% of patients. According to histological classification, 19 patients had minimal change disease, whereas focal segmental glomerulosclerosis was observed in 23 patients. It was observed that 96.7% of the patients did not necessitate the need for renal replacement therapy. Conclusion: The present study successfully examined the clinical profile and outcomes of adults with NS and AKI. The findings provide valuable insights into the characteristics and prognosis of this patient population, contributing to a better understanding of NS with AKI in adults.