In this study we evaluated the effects of high-dose corticosteroid (CS) therapy and the character of the nephrotic syndrome (NS) itself on bones in patients with normal glomerular filtration rate. We measured serum osteocalcin (OC), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH), 25-hydroxyvitamin D, calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), and magnesium (Mg) levels, and urinary Ca and protein excretion in nephrotic children during the active phase before (group Ia) and after CS treatment (group Ib). The results were compared with age-matched control subjects. A significant increase in urinary Ca excretion was observed after CS treatment. Serum ALP, OC, and iPTH levels were within normal limits at the time of study entry. However, both serum OC and ALP levels showed a significant decrease after the completion of CS treatment (OC from 13.6±9.2 ng/ml to 6.7±5.2 ng/ml and ALP from 151.8±60.2 U/l to 116±43.8 U/l). 25-Hydroxyvitamin D levels increased to 17.2±8.9 μg/l from 9.9±6.9 μg/l after CS treatment. The effects of recurrent use of CSs were assessed by dividing nephrotic patients into two subgroups: infrequent relapsers (IFR) and frequent relapsers (FR). The cumulative dose of CS was 28,125 mg/m2 for IFR and 105,000 mg/m2 for FR. The changes in OC, ALP, and 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels after CS treatment were significantly different between IFR and FR. We conclude that high-dose CS treatment causes a decrease in bone formation, as shown by the changes in OC and ALP levels. 25-Hydroxyvitamin D levels remained lower than control subjects after CS therapy. The higher the cumulative dose of CS used the more marked the changes in biochemical bone markers. The contribution of FR to baseline 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels needs further study.
