NEPHROTIC SYNDROME OCCURRING DURING PARAMETHADIONE THERAPY

Three cases of a nephrotic-like syndrome appearing in patients taking trimethadione (Tridione) have been reported. In May, 1948, Barnett and associates reported the case of a 16-year-old girl who had been taking trimethadione for eight months when massive edema, 4+ proteinuria, hypoproteinemia, and hypercholesterolemia appeared but results of renal function tests were normal. In this case nephrosis occurred two additional times, both following further courses of the drug. In February, 1949, White reported a similar case in which a 20-year-old man in whom massive edema, 4+ proteinuria, hypoproteinemia, and hypercholesterolemia developed following a 10 month course of trimethadione. As in the case of Barnett and co-workers, the edema, proteinuria, and abnormal blood chemistry reverted to normal within six weeks after withdrawal of the drug. Briggs and Emery reported a case in which a nephrotic syndrome developed after trimethadione therapy for four months. This child did not have a clinical remission