Short term treatment outcomes of primary focal segmental glomerulosclerosis: A single center experience from a tertiary care hospital of South Punjab, Pakistan.

Abstract

Objective: To determine the short-term treatment outcomes of biopsy-proven focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). Study Design: Retrospective, Cohort study. Setting: Department of Nephrology, Kidney Center, Bahawal Victoria Hospital, Bahawalpur, Pakistan. Period: January 2019 to June 2025. Methods: A total of 66 patients with biopsy-proven FSGS, aged 12–60 years, with a minimum follow-up duration of 6 months were analyzed. Information was extracted from registry and hospital records. Baseline demographic, clinical, laboratory and treatment related information were recorded. At six months, outcomes were measured by proteinuria and serum creatinine changes. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS v26, with chi-square, or Fisher's exact test and statistical significance at p<0.05. Results: In a total of 66 patients, the median age was 22.0 years (IQR 16.0–33.5), and 34 (51.5%) were male. Steroid monotherapy was used in 46 (69.7%), and steroids with cyclosporine in 10 (15.2%) patients. At six months, 44 (66.7%) achieved complete proteinuria remission, 12 (18.2%) partial, 8 (12.1%) had persistent, and 2 (3.0%) had massive proteinuria. Renal function remained normal in 58 (87.9%), improved in 4 (6.1%), and worsened in 4 (6.1%) patients. Proteinuria remission correlated with gender (p=0.006) and baseline renal dysfunction (p=0.019). Treatment modality was significantly associated with post-treatment renal dysfunction (p<0.001). No mortality was reported during the study period. Conclusion: Short-term analysis of biopsy-proven FSGS demonstrated that two-thirds of patients achieved complete remission of proteinuria and the majority maintained stable renal function after six months of therapy.