MINIMAL CHANGE NEPHROPATHY IN THE WEST OF SCOTLAND - A REVIEW OF 64 PATIENTS

Sixty-four patients with a histological diagnosis of minimal change ne phropathy have been followed for a median of 110 months. Patients tran sferred from paediatric units (11%) had a worse prognosis in that all became frequent relapsers. Patients who relapsed within three months o r who went on to become frequent relapsers had a higher 24 hour urine protein excretion at presentation than patients who did not relapse. A fter fifteen months of remission relapse was rare; 97% of those who re lapsed did so within 36 months. Patients who have been off steroids an d proteinuria free for 36 months might therefore be considered cured.