ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: Familial steroid-sensitive idiopathic nephrotic syndrome is rare, and only approximately 3% of patients have affected siblings. METHODS: Herein, we report seven cases of patients with steroid-sensitive idiopathic nephrotic syndrome from three Chinese families. Mutational screening of the Nphs2 gene was performed in all the patients. RESULTS: All seven of the familial steroid-sensitive idiopathic nephrotic syndrome cases in our sample exhibited minimal change disease, and one case also presented with mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis, according to the renal pathology. No significant was associations were found between Nphs2 gene mutations and the onset of proteinuria and nephrotic syndrome in these familial cases. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of minimal change disease is important, but it is not an unusual finding in patients with familial steroid-sensitive idiopathic nephrotic syndrome, which appears to be clinically benign and genetically distinct from other types of nephrosis. .
Subject(s)
Adolescent , Adult , Child , Child, Preschool , Female , Humans , Male , Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins/genetics , Membrane Proteins/genetics , Mutation/genetics , Nephrotic Syndrome/genetics , Polymorphism, Genetic/genetics , Rare Diseases/genetics , China , Nephrotic Syndrome/pathology , Pedigree , Rare Diseases/pathologyABSTRACT
IgM nephropathy presents with refractory nephrotic syndrome and its treatment is a significant challenge for pediatricians. We present two patients with IgM nephropathy and frequently relapsing nephrotic syndrome treated with rituximab and subsequently mycophenolate mofetil. Both showed complete remission, which 24 to 30 months later, was still maintained. The role of mycophenolate mofetil therapy in maintaining remission after successful treatment of rituximab in IgM nephropathy needs to be examined.