RESUMEN
Plasma levels of atrial natriuretic peptide [ANP] were measured using a specific and sensitive radioimmunoassay in 40 children with nephrotic syndrome [NS]. Nine patients were steroid resistant and the remaining had primary steroid responsive NS. Renal biopsy was performed to four steroid resistant nephrotic patients and revealed membranoproliferative glomerulo nephritis [MPGN] in three patients and lupus nephritis in one patient. Plasma levels of ANP were also measured in 18 healthy children as a control group. High plasma concentrations of ANP were detected in nephrotic patients during active stage of the disease [edema and heavy proteinuria] irrespective to the underlying renal pathology or to the response to steroid therapy. Plasma ANP values in nephrotic patients correlated negatively with serum albumin and with serum creatinine clearance