Histopathological profile of adult nephrotic syndrome in Singapore

The renal biopsies of 100 patients presenting with the Nephrotic Syndrome were analysed. Eighty-seven percent were due to primary glomerulonephritis and the other 13% due to secondary glomerulonephritis of which Systemic Lupus Erythematosus was the commonest. Diffuse mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis (DPGN) formed the largest group (60%). Minimal lesion occurred in 15% of patients and only 5% had Membranous Glomerulonephritis. 63% of patients with DPGN had negative staining on immunofluorescence. Even though Mesangial IgA Nephritis is prevalent in Singapore, it accounted for only 4% of glomerulonephritis causing the Nephrotic Syndrome.