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Urinary Interleukin 13 Level in Steroid Sensitive and Resistant Nephrotic Syndrome: A Cross-Sectional Single Center Study Publisher Pubmed



Ermian B1 ; Samieefar N2, 3 ; Vahidi A4 ; Fahimi D2 ; Peirovi N1 ; Aldokhi MH1 ; Bazargani B2 ; Abbasi A2 ; Askarian F2 ; Moghtaderi M2
Authors
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Authors Affiliations
  1. 1. School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  2. 2. Pediatric Chronic Kidney Disease Research Center, Gene, Cell & Tissue Research Institute, Children’s Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  3. 3. Network of Interdiscplinarity in Neonates and Infants (NINI), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran
  4. 4. Metabolic Disorders Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Molecular- Cellular Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Source: Scientific Reports Published:2025


Abstract

Nephrotic syndrome, the most common glomerular disease in pediatric population, is classified into two groups of steroid sensitive (SSNS) and resistant (SSRS). There is growing evidence on the role of T cells cytokines, including interleukin-13, in pathophysiology of nephrotic syndrome and steroid response. This study was a cross-sectional study conducted at Children’s Medical Center Hospital in order to explore the relationship between urinary IL-13 levels and responsiveness to corticosteroid treatment. All children (1 to 15 years) referred from January 2021 to January 2022 diagnosed with nephrotic syndrome were included. Urine samples were collected during the initial phase or relapse of nephrotic syndrome, before the initiation of steroid or alternative treatments. Interleukin-13 levels in the urine were measured using the ELISA method. In this study, 83 cases of nephrotic syndrome were enrolled, of whom 30 (36.1%) were girls and 53 (63.9%) were boys. Out of the 83 cases, 63 (75.9%) were identified as SSNS and 20 (24.1%) as SRNS. There was no significant difference between the urinary interleukin-13 levels between SSNS and SRNS groups (P-value: 0.84). Sex (P-value: 0.598) and age (P-value: 0.704) also had no association with interleukin-13 levels. Further studies in larger population are recommended to better assess the potential of this biomarker to predict response to treatment. © The Author(s) 2025.