The nephrotic syndrome.

In recent years tremendous advances have been made in the clinicohistological correlates of glomerular diseases, as a result of light microscopy and electron microscopy of the kidney, and also immunological evaluation of these diseases. However, current knowledge concerning the immunopathology, pathophysiology, and treatment of most causes of the nephrotic syndrome is inadequate. The prognosis of glomerulonephritis (especially when proliferative disease presents as the nephrotic syndrome) is still uncertain. Consequently most adult patients presenting with the nephrotic syndrome require careful assessment of their kidney and immunological function, as well as accurate monitoring of the effects of treatment in both the short term and the long term.