Premature coronary atherosclerosis in a 5-year-old with corticosteroid-refractory nephrotic syndrome.

We report the case of a 5-year-old girl who died two years after onset of the idiopathic nephrotic syndrome, which failed to respond to treatment with corticosteroid and cyclophosphamide. Severe atherosclerotic changes were noted in both coronary arteries. Prolonged hyperlipidemia in patients with long-standing nephrotic syndrome may represent a major risk factor predisposing to premature coronary atherosclerosis in children who are also destined to develop chronic renal failure.