Evaluation of Children with Nephrotic Syndrome: Single Center Experience

INTRODUCTION: Nephrotic Syndrome (NS) is the most common childhood glomerular disease manifested by proteinuria, edema and hypoalbuminemia. The aim of this study is to examine children with primary NS in terms of clinical laboratory and histopathological features, to evaluate treatment responses.
METHODS: Thirty-eight (21 boys/ 17 girls) patients followed up with primary NS included in the study.
RESULTS: The mean age at diagnosis was 6.4 years. Histopathological diagnoses were focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) in 17 patients, minimal change disease (MCD) in 8, membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN) in 3, and membranous glomerulonephritis (MN) in 1 patient. Patients with MPGN was older than MCD and FSGS (p = 0.035). Twenty-four patients were steroid sensitive. Steroid response rates were 88% in patients with MCD, 41% in patients with FSGS and 33% in those with MPGN. At last visit, three (7.9%) were diagnosed as chronic kidney disease (CKD).
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: NS is the most common glomerular disease of childhood. Early diagnosis and histopathological features of the disease have an important place in prognosis. Knowing the demographic, clinical and pathological features of the disease is helpful in monitoring and prognostic prediction.