Life Expectancy Of FSGS With Dialysis

FSGS (focal segmental glomerulosclerosis) is one of the leading cause of nephrotic syndrome. It is usually found among children and teenagers and male patients are more than female patients.

Many patients and parents of patients wonder about the life expectancy for FSGS. To be honest, the exact life expectancy can not be given without clear understanding of the patients’ specific illness conditions. What is more, there are a lot of factors that need to be taken into account to predict the possible life span such as other comorbid diseases, diet, nursing as well as treatments and response to the treatments.

The following are the basic therapy options for FSGS patients.

Cytotoxic agents

Steroids

Immunosuppressants

Plasma exchange

ACEI and ARB

Low-sodium diets

If patients have good response to these therapies, they can live a normal life spans. However about 50% FSGS patients have poor response to these therapies and will in the end progress into end stage renal disease. It takes about 5 years to develop into renal failure and some may even within 2 years.

For end stage FSGS patients, treatment options are dialysis, kidney transplant and immunotherapy. With dialysis, life expectancy can be prolonged for about 5 years before kidney transplant is offered. However for FSGS, kidney transplant may not be the best treatment because the disease relapses easily. Usually the transplanted kidney will once again fail after about 10 years. For children FSGS patients, they may need several kidney transplant in their lifetime.

The data just mentioned are not applied to every case and there are many factors that can reduce or prolong the patients’ life expectancy. Let’s see how to help improve prognosis and prolong life span.

Clinical remission of proteinuria is closely linked to how long FSGS patients can live. It has been reported that half of patients with 24-h protein in urine 3-3.5g will progress into renal failure within 6-8 years. If daily protein leakage can be controlled less than 3g, patients can remind normal conditions for 10 years. So we can see how significant it is to treat proteinuria. ACEI is effective at controlling high blood pressure and reducing protein in urine.

Some supplement like fish oil, vitamins D3 are all very good for FSGS patients.