title: Minimal change disease: a review.
abstract: Minimal change disease (MCD) is a histopathological lesion in the kidney that is most commonly associated with nephrotic syndrome. The majority of the cases are idiopathic. Pathogenesis is not well understood, although T-cell-related mechanisms are implicated. Massive proteinuria leads to hypoalbuminemia, salt retention, disorder of hemostasis, hyperlipidemia and increased susceptibility to infections. Renal biopsy remains the gold standard for diagnosis. MCD is highly responsive to corticosteroids. Other immunosuppressive agents such as cyclophosphamide, cyclosporin, azathioprine and mycophenolate mofetil have been used to treat cases which are resistant to steroids.
authors.affiliation: Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, 2355 W. Arlington Boulevard, Greenville, North Carolina 37834, USA. sahat@ecu.edu
authors.forename: Tapasi C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Saha
authors.forename: Harmeet
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Singh
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006487:Hemostasis; D006801:Humans; D007678:Kidney Glomerulus / Q000503:physiopathology; D009402:Nephrosis, Lipoid / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D011379:Prognosis; D011507:Proteinuria / Q000503:physiopathology; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000378:metabolism; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D012965:Sodium Chloride