Vitamin D levels and vitamin D receptor expression in children with primary nephrotic syndrome

Objective: To explore the significance of vitamin D and vitamin D receptor expression in the occurrence and outcome of primary nephrotic syndrome. Methods: Serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D3 levels were determined in 90 children with primary nephrotic syndrome. Renal vitamin D receptor expression was detected in 36 children with primary nephrotic syndrome. Results: Serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D3 levels in the 90 children with primary nephrotic syndrome were significantly lower compared with the control group (P<0.05). Serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D3 levels were lower in the initial onset and non-remission groups than in the remission group (P<0.05). Vitamin D receptor expression in kidney tissue in primary nephrotic syndrome children was significantly lower than that in the control group (P<0.05), significantly lower in the focal segmental glomerulosclerosis group than that in the mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis and minimal change disease groups (P<0.05), and lower in the mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis group than that in the minimal change disease group (P<0.05). Conclusions: Decreased 25 (OH) D3 levels and altered vitamin D receptor expression in primary nephrotic syndrome children may be associated with the occurrence and outcome of primary nephrotic syndrome.