From the Research
Patients with nephrotic syndrome should undergo blood tests every 1-2 weeks during initial treatment and flare-ups, then every 1-3 months during stable periods. The frequency of blood tests depends on the severity of the disease, medication regimen, and response to treatment 1. Essential blood tests include comprehensive metabolic panels to monitor kidney function (creatinine, BUN), albumin levels, lipid profiles, and complete blood counts. Patients on immunosuppressive medications like prednisone, cyclophosphamide, or calcineurin inhibitors require more frequent monitoring to check for medication side effects and toxicity 2. Those with diabetes should also have regular blood glucose monitoring. The frequent testing is necessary because nephrotic syndrome can cause rapid changes in kidney function, fluid balance, and electrolyte levels, while medications used for treatment may affect bone marrow function, liver enzymes, and blood cell counts. Some key points to consider when determining the frequency of blood tests for patients with nephrotic syndrome include:
- Disease severity: Patients with more severe disease may require more frequent monitoring 3
- Medication regimen: Patients on immunosuppressive medications require more frequent monitoring to check for medication side effects and toxicity 4
- Response to treatment: Patients who are responding well to treatment may be able to have less frequent monitoring, while those who are not responding may require more frequent testing 5 As the condition stabilizes, testing frequency can be gradually reduced, but regular monitoring remains important for long-term management.