Cemaliye BAŞARAN, Özgür ÖZDEMİR-ŞİMŞEK, Gökçen ERFİDAN, Seçil ARSLANSOYU-ÇAMLAR, Demet ALAYGUT, Fatma MUTLUBAŞ, Belde KASAP-DEMİR
Turkish Journal of Nephrology - 2026;35(1):40-47
Background: There is no current consensus on the treatment of steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome (SRNS). The aim was to evaluate the various approaches of Turkish pediatric nephrologists toward the treatment of children and adolescents with SRNS and whether the choice of treatment is influenced by professional experience. Methods: An electronic survey comprising 35 questions was sent to 200 pediatric nephrologists. A total of 44 responses were received and included in the analysis. Participants were categorized into 2 groups based on their clinical experience: less than 10 years (group 1) and 10 or more years (group 2). Results: Of the 44 respondents, 17 were in group 1 and 27 in group 2. No significant differences were observed in diagnostic approaches between the 2 groups. In cases with a partial response at the end of the fourth week of treatment, none of the respondents in group 1 would perform a kidney biopsy, whereas 25.9% of group 2 would consider it (P = .032). Treatment strategies following a confirmed diagnosis of SRNS did not differ between the 2 groups. However, participants in group 2 reported a preference for prolonged use of calcineurin inhibitors (P = .016). Approaches to the transplantation process did not differ between the 2 groups. Conclusion: Although overall approaches to SRNS were similar, certain decisions, including biopsy timing and calcineurin inhibitor duration, differed according to professional experience among pediatric nephrologists.
