Clinical Efficacy of Adjuvant Treatment of Primary Nephrotic Syndrome in Pediatric Patients with Chinese Medicine

OBJECTIVE: Current study aimed to investigate the benefits of adjuvant therapy with traditional Chinese medicine on the pediatric primary nephrotic syndrome. METHODS: A total of 455 patients with PNS admitted to our hospital from January 2010 to January 2019 were divided into the traditional Chinese medicine group (n = 217) and the control group (n = 238). The control group received conventional Western medical treatment, and the traditional Chinese medicine group was treated with traditional Chinese medicine supplemented with Western medical treatment. The differences in remission rate, recurrence rate, and recurrence-free survival between the two groups were evaluated. RESULTS: The differences in clinical parameters between the two groups were not statistically significant. Compared with the control group, adjuvant treatment with traditional Chinese medicine increased the clinical remission rate (p=0.037), decreased the relapse rate (p=0.015), prolonged relapse-free survival (p ≤ 0.01), and was an independent protective factor for relapse-free survival in children with PNS (HR = 0.55, 95% CI 0.49–0.63, p ≤ 0.01). In a subgroup analysis of the traditional Chinese medicine formulations, Yuebi Jiazhu Tang, Ganlu Xiaodu Dan, and Yupingfeng granules significantly reduced the risk of recurrence in children (p ≤ 0.01, p ≤ 0.01, p=0.003). CONCLUSION: Adjuvant treatment of pediatric primary nephrotic syndrome with traditional Chinese medicine could benefit the children.