title: Membranous glomerulonephropathy in childhood.
abstract: Membranous glomerulonephropathy (MGN) in South African black and mixed race children with the nephrotic syndrome is much commoner than in First-World countries. In this survey of 388 nephrotic children MGN was found in 51.9% of black and 20.9% of mixed race boys, and 25% of black and 5.6% of mixed race girls respectively, but was not present in 53 white and Asiatic nephrotic children. Aetiological or associated factors were documented in 84%: hepatitis B virus infection in 73%, congenital syphilis in 6% and systemic lupus erythematosus, D-penicillamine toxicity and Salmonella infective endocarditis in 1 case each. The prognosis depends on the cause and is much better than for adults with idiopathic MGN. After an average follow-up period of 4.5 years the overall remission rate was 78% and mean time to remission 30 months. One patient with syphilitic MGN died 15 years later; 3 patients are in mild renal failure. Corticosteroids and other immuno-suppressive therapy were ineffective and may do harm. The frequent occurrence of MGN is related to the high prevalence of predisposing infections in the affected population groups, and socio-economic rather than ethnic factors are important.
mesh_terms: D044383:Black People; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005921:Glomerulonephritis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D006505:Hepatitis / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009404:Nephrotic Syndrome / Q000150:complications; D013019:South Africa; D044465:White People