title: Prognostic value of sonography in childhood nephrotic syndrome.
abstract: This retrospective case review of 43 children with primary nephrotic syndrome was designed to evaluate the relationship among renal ultrasound findings at presentation, subsequent corticosteroid responsiveness and histological diagnoses. Fifty-one percent of patients had abnormal sonograms; nephromegaly was present in 42% and increased renal echogenicity in 35%. There was no relationship between nephromegaly and either response to corticosteroids or specific glomerular lesions causing nephrosis. Although the presence of echogenic kidneys did not denote a particular type of renal disease, it was significantly more frequent in corticosteroid-resistant than in corticosteroid-responsive patients (62% vs. 18%, P < 0.05). We conclude that increased renal echogenicity at time of presentation is a possible indicator of corticosteroid resistance in children with primary nephrotic syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, State University of New York at Buffalo.
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Gershen
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Brody
authors.forename: L C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Duffy
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Springate
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001706:Biopsy; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007668:Kidney / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009404:Nephrotic Syndrome / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids