Idiopathic reversible renal failure in a young woman with minimal change glomerulonephritis

We report a 19-year-old Saudi female with nephrotic syndrome whose renal biopsy revealed findings suggestive of minimal change glomerulonephritis (MCGN). She developed oliguric renal failure requiring hemodialysis. She remained dialysis dependent for five weeks and subsequently renal function recovered fully. She remained nephrotic and responded to a six week course of corticosteroids. She was followed for two years during which she had two relapses, which responded to steroids. Acute renal failure is uncommon in MCGN and is due to acute tubular necrosis induced by hypovolemia or drugs. This patient did not have any obvious precipitating factor, which led to acute reversible renal failure.