Assessment of Intravascular Volume Status in Children with Nephrotic Edema Using Serum and Urinary Indices and Its Correlation with Inferior Vena Cava Collapsibility Index

Identification of volume status in nephrotic syndrome (NS) is important but clinically challenging. Urinary and serum indices can be helpful in assessing the volume status and so can be inferior vena cava collapsibility index (IVCCI). This study was done to assess the serum and urinary indices in children with nephrotic edema and to correlate them with IVCCI for intravascular volume assessment. Fifty children with nephrotic edema and 47 children in remission were analyzed for blood and urine indices. Volume status was defined as overfilling or underfilling based on the biochemical indices and also by IVCCI. Eighty-four percent individuals among cases and 23% among controls had sodium retention (FENa < 0.5%). Among cases, 54% had primary sodium retention compared to 17% among controls (p = 0.0002). Hypovolemia was observed among 36% cases based on biochemical indices and in 20% cases as per IVCCI. Hypovolemia was significantly associated with low urinary sodium and low serum albumin.