[Significance of cytolipiduria during a nephrotic syndrome]

Phase contrast examination of urine sediment of patients with the nephrotic syndrome shows cytolipiduria in 62.8% of cases. Cytolipiduria is mostly observed in patients between 20 and 80, and is, in most cases, associated to cytological features of glomerular and/or tubular injury. In absence of cytolipiduria, renal biopsy most often shows minimal change disease. Membranous glomerulonephritis is observed in most cases with high cytolipiduria. However, urine sediment is not predictive of renal histologic lesions and progressive glomerulonephritis can be observed in absence of cytolipiduria.