[Nephrotic syndrome in minimal change disease (kidney), focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, and focal mesangioproliferative glomerulonephritis].

AIM: To specify clinical and laboratory characteristics of minimal change disease (MCD), focal mesangioproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN), focal-segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 45 case histories of children (renal biopsy for nephrotic syndrome) has shown that morphologically 13 of them had MCD, 15--FSGS and 17--focal MPGN. Clinical, laboratory, immunofluorescent and electron microscopy findings typical for each of the morphological types were studied. RESULTS: The data obtained suggest that MCD, FSGS and focal MPGN may represent independent forms of glomerulonephritis. CONCLUSION: If a differential diagnosis by renal biopsy is difficult, information from the disease history and clinico-laboratory evidence should be used.