Childhood renal diseases in Saudi Arabia. A clinicopathological study of 167 cases

Between April 1982 and September 1994, 167 renal biopsies were performed in 167 children at King Khalid University Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The data were analysed to show a correlation between clinical presentation and histological findings. Nephrotic syndrome was the most common indication for renal biopsy, accounting for 77% of all cases. Of these, 23.3% showed minimal change lesions, 24% showed mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis and 24% showed focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. We noted a higher incidence of congenital nephrotic syndrome and Alport's syndrome as compared with the West. On the other hand, IgA nephropathy was less common (3%), and there was a complete absence of type II membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis.