Authors:

Abstract

22 children out of a cohort of 63 admitted to the Teaching Hospital, Peradeniya with primary nephrotic syndrome were subjected to percutaneous renal biopsy. Renal biopsies were performed on:

- children with primary nephrotic syndrome who were steroid sensitive but developed frequent relapses and were found to be steroid dependant,

- children resistant to steroids from the onset of the illness, and

- children who presented at the onset with atypical features such as persistent hematuria and/or hypertension.

Paraffin sections of the renal biopsies were stained with haemotoxylin and eosin, PAS and methenamine silver stain. Immunohistochemical staining for IgG, IgM, IgA and C 3 was also done. Thirteen out of the 22 children biopsied had significant . structural changes on histopathological study. Seven of the 13 patients showed focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. Six out of the nine children who showed minimal change histology were females which was in contrast to the usual male preponderance seen for this lesion. Since the renal biopsies were done only in patients with diagnostic or therapeutic problems it is possible that some of the patients who were categorised under minimal change pathology may subsequently turn out to be focal segmental glomerulosclerosis as these lesions are focal.

Keywords: Histopathological study, Kidneys, Primary nephrotic syndrome, Paediatrics