• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.51-56
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• 2000

Deflazacort, an oxazoline derivative of prednisolone, has been claimed to have anti-inflammatory effects with fewer side effects compared to prednisone. The objectives of the study were to evaluate efficacy and safety of deflazacort in children with nephrotic syndrome. Eligible Patients were the children with nephrotic syndrome who were treated with deflazacort from October. 1994 to April. 1999. Nephrotic syndrome was defined as having albumin level of less than 2.5 mg/dL and 24-hour urinary protein excretion of greater than $40\;mg/m^2/hr$. The primary parameters evaluating the efficacy of deflazacort were response rate, time to respond and relapse frequency. The safety profiles were the impact on children's growth, calcium sparing effect, glucose metabolism, lipid profile and adverse drug reactions. As results, total of 60 children were evaluated (47 boys, 13 girls). Response rate was $95\%$ (57/60) for initial and late responders. Median time to respond was 12 days (range 7-110 days) and median relapse frequency was one time (range 0-6). Weight/height ratio increased from $22.05\pm3.47\;to\23.20\pm3.44\;kg/m$ (p<0.001) and plasma calcium level, from $7.55\pm3.86\;to\;9.98\pm3.77\;mg/dL$ after treatment (p<0.001). Change of fasting glucose level was not statistically significant $(91.92\pm3.53\;vs.\;98.19\pm4.78\;mg/dL,\;p=0.072)$, while change of total cholesterol was significant $(362.3\pm12.0\;vs\;251.4\pm11.5\;mg/dL$, p<0.001). In conclusion, patients on deflazacort showed similar efficacy in treatment of nephrotic syndrome as reported for prednisone with less impact on growth inhibition and metabolic side effects of hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.233-238
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• 2008

It has been suspected that various infections, including cytomegalovirus(CMV) infection, are associated with IgA nephropathy. In case of CMV infection, ganciclovir is known to be a treatment of choice for severe CMV infection in general. But ganciclovir has a lot of severe toxicity, so children with normal immunity are seldom treated by ganciclovir when CMV infection is suspected. On the other hand, intravenous immunoglobulin can also be used to treat CMV infection. We report a case of CMV-associated IgA nephrophaty, who was treated with deflazacort and Intravenous immunoglobulin therapy. An 11 years old boy suffered from gross hematuria for 3 days. He had proteinuria, thrombocytopenia(104,000/$mm^3$), antiplatelet antibody(＋), impaired renal function and low serum albumin. His CMV serology was CMV-IgM/IgG(＋/-) and urine CMV-PCR was positive. The renal histological findings revealed IgA nephropathy, WHO class II. His proteinuria persisted despite of deflazacort therapy(2.5 mg/kg/day). Later, intravenous immunoglobulin(1 g/kg) was administered twice. In two years, he showed no gross and microscopic hematuria, and his laboratory findings were also normalized.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.123-127
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• 2014

Erythema multiforme (EM) is an acute mucocutaneous disorder involving the skin, mouth, eyes, and genital organs. It is classified into EM minor and EM major according to the involvement of the mucosal membrane. Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrosis (TEN) belong to EM major. Compared to EM minor, SJS presents with more severe and progressive symptoms, and has a higher mortality rate. Corticosteroids are used in the treatment of EM. We report three cases of EM (two cases of EM minor and one case of SJS) that developed during treatment with oral corticosteroid (deflazacort; $Calcort^{(R)}$) in children with nephrotic syndrome.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.11-23
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• 2004

Although most children with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome respond to corticosteroid therapy, many responders show steroid dependency and frequent relapse. In these children, one of the major problems is the serious side effects resulting from continuous steroid therapy. Thus, this study was conducted to assess the therapeutic efficacy and safety of six-month cyclosporine treatment with the low-dose deflazacort therapy in children with nephrotic syndrome. Thirty children with steroid dependence (SD), frequent relapse (FR) and steroid resistance (SR) were enrolled in this study. They were treated with 6-month oral cyclosporine $(Cypol-N^{(R)})$ plus the low-dose deflazacort $(Calcort^{(R)})$ therapy at Samsung Medical Center from September 2002. The dosage of cyclosporine was started at 5 mg/kg/day and was monthly adjusted to maintain clinical remission and/or a trough blood level, while deflazacort dosage was reduced gradually. Clinical evaluation and monitoring of cyclosporine toxicity were performed every $2\sim4$ weeks. Outcomes were compared to the latest sir-month period of steroid only therapy before cyclosporine treatment. Student's t-test and ANOVA were used for statistical analysis. Out of 28 children with SD and FR, 23 $(82.1\%)$ sustained remission, and 5 $(17.9\%)$ experienced 1 or 2 relapses during therapy. Out of 2 children with SR, 1 child sustained remission, and 1 child showed no response. The mean duration of remission and occurrence of relapse were significantly improved (p <.0001). In addition, the mean dosage of steroid was significantly reduced (p=.003). Although a number of adverse effects occurred in this study, they were not so serious as to necessitate discontinuation of the therapy. No nephrotoxicity was observed. Twenty out of the 28 children who had been in remission relapsed after withdrawal of cyclosporine. Fifteen of these children showed relapse within a month. These results demonstrated that the combination of cyclosporine with the low-dose deflazacort was efficient and safe in children with SD and FR during the six-month treatment. However, further studies are necessary in order to resolve the problem of high relapse rate after discontinuation of cyclosporine.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.97-100
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• 2016

Toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) is a rare, acute, serious, and potentially fatal skin disease, in which cell death causes the epidermis to separate from the dermis. It is thought to be a hypersensitivity complex that affects the skin and mucous membranes, and is caused by certain medications, infections, genetic factors, underlying immunologic disease, or more rarely, cancers. We report two cases of TEN associated with deflazacort (DFZ), a derivative of prednisolone, used in the first episode of nephrotic syndrome (NS). The skin eruption appeared on the $4^{th}$ and $5^{th}$ weeks after DFZ administration, while NS was in remission. The widespread lesions were managed by intensive supportive treatment, discontinuation of DFZ, and oral administration of cyclosporine. Both patients showed a rapid improvement in symptoms of TEN without any complications or relapse of NS.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.107-111
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• 2006

Crohn disease (CD) is rare, but the incidence of CD has been increasing over the past ten years. We found two cases of CD, associated with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), for the first time in children. In the first patient, MDS was diagnosed at three years of age and CD developed later at eight years of age. The patient presented with recurrent abdominal pain, diarrhea, bloody stools and failure to thrive. Colonoscopy revealed cobble stone like mucosa and mass like lesions with superficial ulceration and inflammatory exudates, observed from the cecum to ascending colon. Ileo-cecal biopsy samples showed ulcers with skipped areas and lymphoid infiltrations. The patient was started on treatment with mesalazine and deflazacort, and symptoms remitted. In the second patient, MDS was diagnosed at nine years of age and CD developed at 13 years of age. This patient has recurrent hematochezia, abdominal pain, vomiting and fever. Colonoscopy revealed a large, deep indurative ulceration on the cecal side of the ileo-cecal valve. Ileocecectomy was done, and histology revealed ulceration with transmural inflammation and lymphoid aggregates. Symptoms improved after ileocecectomy.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.227-232
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• 2008

A 16-year-old girl presented with proteinuria and microscopic hematuria detected through mass urinary screening and was diagnosed as having suspected postinfectious glomerulonephritis by renal biopsy. However, heavy proteinuria did not respond to angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor therapy. After 6 months, cervical lymphadenitis developed and a neck node biopsy showed subacute necrotizing lymphadenitis. After an additional 2 months, she developed facial erythema and thrombocytopenia. A repeat renal biopsy demonstrated lupus nephritis class IV. She was treated with pulse methylprednisolone(500 mg/day intravenously for 3 consecutive days) followed by oral deflazacort and monthly intravenous cyclophosphamide pulse(1 g/$m^2$) for 6 months. We report a case diagnosed as systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE) during medical follow-up after urinary screening.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.35-39
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• 2017

Azathioprine is commonly used as immunosuppressive therapy for various inflammatory diseases including chronic glomerulonephritis. Myelosuppression is a common side effect of azathioprine, resulting in the need for dose reduction. However, severe pancytopenia or alopecia is not often encountered. Here, we report a case of severe myelosuppression, and alopecia totalis that occurred after azathioprine treatment in a patient with IgA nephropathy. A 10-year-old boy with IgA nephropathy was treated with oral deflazacort and later with azathioprine. After 4 weeks, the patient complained of hair loss, and despite a dose reduction in azathioprine, he developed bone marrow suppression and alopecia totalis in two weeks. The blood indices and alopecia of the patient had returned to normal after azathioprine withdrawal and 3 consecutive doses of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor. We suggest that physicians remain vigilant to the side effects of azathioprine. Unusual hair loss after azathioprine treatment might suggest a defect in the metabolism of the drug, warranting the discontinuation of azathioprine to prevent more severe side effects.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.167-170
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• 2015

Hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES) is characterized by the presense of hypereosinophilia with evidence of target organ damage. We report a patient diagnosed with eosinophilic cystitis and HES. A 7 year old boy had hematuria, dysuria, and increased urinary frequency for 1 day. Laboratory examinations revealed hypereosinophilia (eosinophils, $2,058/{\mu}L$), hematuria, and proteinuria. Abdominal sonography revealed diffuse and severe wall thickening of the bladder. The patient was treated initially with antibiotics. However, his symptoms did not improve after 7 days. A computed tomography scan demonstrated severe wall thickening of the bladder and the hypereosinophilia persisted (eosinophils, $2,985/{\mu}L$). The patient complained of chest discomfort, dyspnea, epigastric pain, and vomiting on hospital day 10. Parasitic, allergic, malignancy, rheumatologic, and immune workups revealed no abnormal findings. Chest X-rays, electrocardiography, and a pulmonary function test were normal; however, the hypereosinophilia was aggravated (eosinophils, $3,934/{\mu}L$). Oral deflazacort was administered. A cystoscopic biopsy showed chronic inflammation with eosinophilic infiltration. The patient's respiratory, gastrointestinal, and urinary symptoms improved after 6 days of steroids, and he was discharged. The eosinophil count decreased dramatically ($182/{\mu}L$). The hypereosinophilia waxed and waned for 7 months, and the oral steroids were tapered and stopped. This case describes a patient diagnosed with eosinophilic cystitis and HES.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.59 no.sup1
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• pp.72-75
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• 2016

Eosinophilic gastroenteritis is a rare disease characterized by prominent eosinophilic tissue infiltration of the gastrointestinal tract. Here, we report a case of eosinophilic gastroenteritis in an 18-year-old patient with prolonged nephrotic syndrome who presented with abdominal pain and peripheral hypereosinophilia. During the previous 2 years, he had visited local Emergency Department several times because of epigastric pain and nausea. He had been treated with steroid-dependent nephrotic syndrome since 3 years of age. Tests ruled out allergic and parasitic disease etiologies. Gastroduodenoscopy with biopsy revealed marked eosinophilic infiltration in the duodenum. Renal biopsy findings indicated minimal change disease spectrum without eosinophilic infiltration. The oral deflazacort dosage was increased, and the patient was discharged after abdominal pain resolved. To our knowledge, this is the first report of eosinophilic gastroenteritis in a patient with minimal change disease.