[The renal functional reserve in the nephrotic syndrome]

Functional reserves of the kidneys (FRK) were examined in 29 patients with the nephrotic syndrome and in 14 healthy subjects. FRK were determined as the degree of the increase of endogenous creatinine clearance after stimulation with beef protein (0.7 g per kg bw) or dopamine (3 micrograms/min per kg bw). It was revealed that in 2/3 of the patients, FRK were lowered or lacking. The lack of FRK was seen in all the morphological varieties of renal lesions, with the frequency being greater in the severe clinical forms of the nephrotic syndrome, in lasting nephropathy, in association with arterial hypertension or renal failure. It has been noted that FRK may recover after successful treatment of the nephrotic syndrome, attesting to a favourable regimen of organ functioning and suggesting deceleration of the tempo of renal disease progress.