Pediatric ATI Practice Exam

After a successful intervention with prednisone, what change might be observed in a child with nephrotic syndrome?

1. Increased perspiration.

2. Greater oral intake.

3. Decreased blood pressure.

4. Reduction of protein loss in urine.

The correct answer is: Reduction of protein loss in urine.

In nephrotic syndrome, the kidneys leak excessive amounts of protein into the urine, leading to symptoms such as edema, low protein levels in the blood, and increased susceptibility to infections. Prednisone is a corticosteroid that helps reduce inflammation and suppress the immune response, both of which can play a role in the underlying cause of nephrotic syndrome. After a successful intervention with prednisone, one would observe a reduction in protein loss in the urine. This improvement occurs because prednisone helps to decrease the permeability of the glomerular membranes in the kidneys, resulting in fewer proteins leaking into the urine. As the protein levels normalize, the child is likely to show improvement in other symptoms associated with nephrotic syndrome, such as edema and overall health status. The other options do not directly relate to the expected results of prednisone treatment for nephrotic syndrome. Increased perspiration and greater oral intake are not primary indicators of the treatment's effectiveness in managing the condition. Additionally, while corticosteroids can influence blood pressure, a decrease in blood pressure is not a typical or direct outcome of prednisone therapy for nephrotic syndrome. Thus, the prominent change observed following adequate treatment with prednisone would be the reduction of protein loss in the urine.