minimal change disease…

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male urinary system, minimal change nephrotic syndrome, nil disease, lipoid nephrosis, idiopathic nephrotic syndrome of childhood, minimal change disease, kidney disorder, each kidney is made of more than a million units, nephrons, each nephron has a tuft of blood vessels, a glomerulus, is surrounded by a bowman's capsule, together, structures filter blood, form urine, minimal change disease is one cause of nephrotic syndrome, named "minimal change", the nephrons appear totally normal under a light microscope, condition is only seen using an electron microscope, reveals changes, in the bowman's capsule, in the nephrons, urine tests also show high protein levels, minimal change disease, most common cause of nephrotic syndrome in children, frequently seen in adults, the disease preceded by viral infection, allergic reactions, recent immunizations, minimal change disease, does not reduce the amount, urine produced, rarely progresses to kidney failure, symptoms of nephrotic syndrome, swelling, around the eyes, feet, ankles, abdomen, foamy appearance, the urine, weight gain, from fluid retention, poor appetite, a physical examination would not reveal much except swelling, blood tests, urinalysis reveal results typical of nephrotic syndrome, high levels of urine protein, low blood albumin levels, high cholesterol, a kidney biopsy, examination, the tissue, an electron microscope would show the classic changes of minimal change disease, an immunofluorescence exam of biopsied kidney tissue is negative, swelling treated, diuretics, blood pressure control, ace inhibitor medicines, receive instructions on how much salt, in diet, corticosteroids, cure minimal change disease, vast majority of children, patients, require maintenance on steroids to sustain the remission, a minority of children, relapse after they stop taking steroids, happens, respond well to a repeat course, the steroids, adults, not respond to steroids quite, children, a majority still, find steroids effective, frequency of relapses, steroid dependence greater in adults, frequent relapsers, than 3 relapses, need cytotoxic therapy, course of cyclophosphamide, medicines, been used include cyclosporine, chlorambucil, minimal change disease, responds well to corticosteroids, the first month, relapse, occur but the patient, benefit from prolonged treatment, corticosteroids, immunosuppressive medications, side effects of medications, nephrotic syndrome, symptoms occur, suggestive of minimal change disease, symptoms worsen, new symptoms develop, side effects of medications, treat the disorder, no known prevention.