[Immunopathological prediction index of frequent relapses in children with lipoid nephrosis]

Forty-four renal biopsies were performed in the same number of selected patients with the diagnosis of lipoid nephrosis. Immunopathologic studies were carried out in all the biopsies. Positive immunofluorescence to immunoglobulins, complement/or fibrin was found in 21 cases (48%). A correlation was found between immunopathological findings and the number of patients with frequent relapses. More number of patients with frequent relapses were found in the group with positive immunofluorescence (p less than 0.01) than in those with negative results. No explanation was found for this situation; however it is suggested that the glomerular detection of immune proteins with lipoid nephrosis could be a useful parameter to predict frequent relapses in children with lipoid nephrosis.