Abstract
BACKGROUND: Primary nephrotic syndrome is responsible for 12% of the causes of chronic kidney disease and up to 20% of ESRD. Patients often require cortico-steroids to get remission, yet many patients either show relapses after remission or do not respond to it. The better alternative is, however far from established.
OBJECTIVES: This study was performed to determine the effectiveness of the multi-modal Ayurvedic treatment in the patients of nephrotic syndrome.
MEHTODS: This is an observational study on 20 patients, performed with vardhamana pippali first 2 weeks followed by mild virechana karma with erandasneha. After virecana, patients were treated with oral Ayurvedic preparations for next 2 weeks. Patients were kept on Ayurvedic preparations except pippali for one year. Cortico-steroids (prednisolone) and immunosuppressive drugs (Cyclosporin) were stopped within the main assessment period. Patients were assessed symptomatically and on the basis of laboratory investigations i.e. serum albumin, serum cholesterol and albuminuria after completion of 4 weeks treatment. Patients were assessed every 2 months as follow up with a final assessment after the 12 months follow-up period.
RESULTS: Serum albumin was increased by 12.78% while total cholesterol level was decreased by 18.56%. Albuminuria was increased after the 4 weeks treatment may be because of discontinuation of steroids. However it was decreased by 80.28% after the 12 months follow-up without consumption of steroids or immunosuppressive drugs. These changes were statistically significant. Symptomatic betterment was also observed during the follow-up period. No any unwanted effects noted during the study period.

Key words: Primary nephrotic syndrome; Vardhamana pippali; Virechana karma