Therapy-resistant anaemia in congenital nephrotic syndrome of the Finnish type--implication of EPO, transferrin and transcobalamin losses

Nephrol Dial Transplant. 2009 Apr;24(4):1338-40. doi: 10.1093/ndt/gfn762. Epub 2009 Jan 18.

Abstract

Congenital nephrotic syndrome of the Finnish type (CNF) is due to NPHS1 mutation and is responsible for a variety of urinary protein losses. We report the case of a 4-month-old girl with a particularly severe form (proteinuria approximately 150 g/l) of CNF. She developed severe non-regenerative anaemia requiring bi-monthly blood transfusions despite daily EPO (600 UI/kg) and iron supplementation. Epoetin pharmacokinetics revealed a urinary loss of 27% of the given dose within the first 24 h after IV injection. However, plasma levels remained increased after 24 h (228 UI/l). Plasma transferrin and transcobalamin levels were undetectable. Atransferrinaemia and atranscobalaminaemia seem to be responsible for disturbed erythropoiesis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Anemia / blood
  • Anemia / etiology
  • Anemia / therapy*
  • Blood Transfusion
  • Erythropoietin / administration & dosage
  • Erythropoietin / blood
  • Erythropoietin / urine*
  • Female
  • Hematinics / administration & dosage
  • Hematinics / blood
  • Hematinics / urine*
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Nephrectomy
  • Nephrotic Syndrome / complications
  • Nephrotic Syndrome / congenital
  • Nephrotic Syndrome / genetics
  • Nephrotic Syndrome / therapy*
  • Transcobalamins / analysis
  • Transcobalamins / urine*
  • Transferrin / analysis
  • Transferrin / urine*

Substances

  • Hematinics
  • Transcobalamins
  • Transferrin
  • Erythropoietin