Dental caries prevention as a modifiable precipitating factor of nephrotic syndrome relapse in children: an insight into simple-novel management.

BACKGROUND

Relapse in nephrotic syndrome (NS) is something that really haunts patients, parents, and nephrologists. There are several conditions in daily practice that are often suspected as factors precipitating this recurrence, one of which is dental caries. The study aims to establish causality or highlight an association between dental caries and NS relapse.

METHODS

The study was retrospective and data were collected from the registry of the Pediatric Nephrology Division at Hasan Sadikin General Hospital between January 2013 and December 2023. Odds ratios were measured using bivariate and multivariate analyses.

RESULTS

Of the 2322 recurrent NS cases, 865 (96.4%) were triggered by dental caries, and children with dental caries had a very high risk of frequent recurrence of SN compared to those without dental caries (RR = 42.014, 95% CI: 29.603-59.627) (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Clinicians, both doctors and dentists, need to collaborate in the management of dental caries in children, whether in the form of primary, secondary, or tertiary prevention, in an effort to prevent chronic kidney disease related to its frequent relapse.