title: Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, crescent, and rapidly progressive renal failure.
abstract: The usual clinical course of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis is marked by progressive decrease in renal functional and sclerosis on biopsy over a period of months to years. We report a variant exemplified by 2 children who developed chronic renal failure within 12 weeks of the onset of nephrotic syndrome; repeat renal biopsies demonstrated extensive extracapillary glomerular proliferation and crescent formation. Both were males, less than 5 years of age, presenting with nephrotic syndrome resistant to steroid therapy and normal renal function. Renal biopsies done after 8 weeks of therapy, demonstrated findings compatible with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. Within 12 weeks of onset of nephrotic syndrome, both patients experienced a decrease in renal function requiring dialysis. Repeat renal biopsies revealed extensive extracapillary glomerular proliferation with crescent formation. These patients represent a variant of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis characterized by rapid progression to renal failure with extensive extracapillary glomerular proliferation and crescent formation.
mesh_terms: D001706:Biopsy; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005921:Glomerulonephritis / Q000150:complications*; D005923:Glomerulosclerosis, Focal Segmental / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000209:etiology*; D007678:Kidney Glomerulus / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009404:Nephrotic Syndrome / Q000209:etiology; D013997:Time Factors