Epidemiology, severity, and risk of SARS-CoV-2-related relapse in children and young adults affected by idiopathic nephrotic syndrome: a retrospective observational cohort study

Background: Children with underlying kidney diseases display a mild course of SARS-CoV-2 infection, but they only accounted for a minority of cases until the spread of the Omicron variant. Nonetheless, idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS) has been advocated as a predictor of worse outcome. Methods: We investigated the spread, severity, and risk of relapse related to SARS-CoV-2 infection among children with INS. The incidence and characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 infections, immunosuppression, and vaccination status were retrospectively collected from the beginning of the pandemic to May 31, 2022. Results: We enrolled 176 patients (73 females, median age 10.22 years); 28 had a steroid-resistant disease, and 108 (61.4%) were on immunosuppressive therapy. Sixty-one (34.7%) patients reported a SARS-CoV-2 infection, with incidence peaking between December 2021 and January 2022. No hospitalization or deaths were reported, and symptoms were absent or mild. The rate of SARS-CoV-2 infection was similar in children with and without immunosuppression (33.8% vs 35.2%; p = 0.85). None of the 38 immunosuppressed patients discontinued the therapy, but they had a longer time to negativization (13.31 vs. 10.04 days; p = 0.03). Proteinuria was detected in 7 patients, but only one had a relapse requiring steroid therapy, with prompt remission and a mild course. Conclusions: After the spread of the Omicron variant, the rate of SARS-CoV-2 infection in children with INS was much higher than previously reported. In this large cohort, symptoms were mild, even in immunosuppressed patients and those with proteinuria. During the infection, transient proteinuria was common with a low rate of relapses. Graphical abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.].