Pericardial Effusion in Childhood Nephrotic Syndrome
Chookiet Kietkajornkul MD*, Arune Klinklom MD**, Tawatchai Kirawittaya MD***
Affiliation : * Nephrology Division, Department of Pediatrics, Queen Sirikit National Institute of Child Health, College of Medicine, Rangsit University, Bangkok ** Department of Pediatrics, Suratthani Hospital, Suratthani *** Cardiology Division, Department of Pediatrics, Queen Sirikit National Institute of Child Health, Bangkok
Background : Nephrotic syndrome (NS) is one of the most common renal diseases in children, which is defined
as idiopathic NS and secondary NS. Current data on adult showed that pericardial effusion was related only
to SLE, but not to non-SLE nephrotic patients. Until now there were no studies about children.
Objective : To compare the frequency and clinical manifestations of pericardial effusion in childhood NS with
SLE and non-SLE patients.
Material and Method: Consecutive cases of NS at Queen Sirikit National Institute of Child Health (QSNICH)
from June 2004 to May 2005 were prospectively studied. Information concerning the following: gender, age,
clinical manifestations, laboratory investigation and echocardiogram in each patient were obtained.
Results : A total of 37 cases were included, 13 with SLE and 24 with idiopathic cause. Pericardial effusion was
found without any symptoms and signs of pericardial disease in both groups; 9 cases (69.2%) of SLE and 2
cases (8.3%) of non-SLE patients. Statistically significant differences were demonstrated between two groups
(p = 0.001).
Conclusion : Pericardial effusion in childhood NS was more frequent in SLE than non-SLE nephrotic patients
statistically significant. This result was different from previous study in adult which revealed no pericardial
effusion in non-SLE group.
Keywords : Pericardial effusion, Nephrotic syndrome, NS, Systemic lupus erythematosus, SLE
