There is no known cure for NS. Some children who develop the
condition early in life can grow out of it by their late teens.
In the intervening years the symptoms of each relapse are
treated with drugs. Steroids are commonly used to stop the
movement of protein from the blood into the urine, but these
drugs can have serious side effects. They cause weight gain,
retard growth and can make bones brittle in later life. If
steroids do not work, then the next line of treatment is to give
highly toxic immunosuppressive drugs, like the drugs used for
chemotherapy in cancer. Unfortunately, by this stage these will
often not work, and the child will then develop kidney failure.
Diuretics may also be given to help in reducing the swelling
that is caused by water retention.