Renal lesions in sickle cell nephropathy in children.

Sickle cell nephropathy characterized by proteinuria and predominantly glomerular lesions has not been studied as extensively as renal tubular alterations in sickle cell disease. We reviewed our experience with this entity over a 14-year period. Of 13 children with either proteinuria or the nephrotic syndrome, 8 showed focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis, and 5 had mesangial proliferation. Children with focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis were older at onset of nephropathy and presented with the nephrotic syndrome more frequently than those with mesangial proliferation (p less than 0.05). All patients with mesangial proliferation and half of the focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis patients had supranormal renal clearances at onset of nephropathy suggesting hyperfiltration. Hyperfiltration seen in animals with reduced renal mass, and in human diabetic nephropathy before reduction in nephron units leads to mesangial proliferation and sclerosis. Our study suggests that sickle cell disease produces similar lesions in patients with sickle cell nephropathy.