Morphological pattern of glomerular diseases in patients with nephrotic syndrome in northern Pakistan

ABSTRACT

Nephrotic syndrome can result from a large number of glomerular lesions. The primary or idiopathic nephrotic syndrome is a condition which develops as a result of primary glomerular disorders of kidney. A study was carried out from May 1994 to June 1995 including all the renal biopsies of the cases presenting as nephrotic syndrome. Cases of nephrotic syndrome secondary to systemic disorders were excluded from the study. Out of 185 renal biopsies received during this period, cases of primary nephrotic syndrome were 58 [31.3%]. Sixty five% were male and thirty five% were female patients. Average age was twenty-seven years. Cases of membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis comprised 32.7%, lesions consistent with minimal change disease were 24.2%, mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis 20.7%, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis 13.8% and membranous glomerulonephritis was seen in 8.6% of the cases. Lesions consistent with minimal change disease was the predominant finding in patients below 15 years of age [47.4%] Membra-noproliferative glomerulonephritis was seen predominantly in patients above 15 years of age [33.3%] rate