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.