title: Changing pattern of glomerular disease at Beijing Children's Hospital.
abstract: Current clinical experience with glomerular disease at a pediatric referral center in Beijing, China, was reviewed. In 1992, renal disorders accounted for 505 of a total 6,885 (7.3%) pediatric medical discharges. Acute glomerulonephritis accounted for 30% of renal diagnoses, while nephrotic syndrome accounted for 28% and Henoch-Schönlein purpura nephritis accounted for 16% of renal disease. Mortality in children with renal disease was 0.4% (two of 505). All children with acute glomerulonephritis recovered or improved at last follow-up, regardless of the relationship to a streptococcal infection. In children with uncomplicated nephrotic syndrome, 91% had a complete or partial response to corticosteroids. Nephritis developed in 81 of 278 patients with Henoch-Schönlein purpura (29%). Since 1956, a dramatic decrease in the diagnosis of acute glomerulonephritis has occurred at this pediatric hospital. Nephrotic syndrome, in contrast, has increased from 45.3 cases per year in the 1956-to-1965 decade to 146 cases annually in the period from 1986 to 1992. Similarly, Henoch-Schönlein purpura has increased from 45.3 cases annually in the 1956-to-1965 period to 238 cases per year in the past 6 years. The incidence of nephritis in patients with Henoch-Schönlein purpura has remained constant at 29% in the past 36 years. These data should be helpful for individuals and institutions who are planning educational or clinical collaborations with pediatric nephrologists in China.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Nephrology, Beijing Children's Hospital, China.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: L G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Feld
authors.forename: F B
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Stapleton
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002681:China; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005921:Glomerulonephritis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006776:Hospitals, Pediatric / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D011695:IgA Vasculitis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D009404:Nephrotic Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy