title: Do C1q or IgM nephropathies predict disease severity in children with minimal change nephrotic syndrome?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It has been suggested that C1q and immunoglobulin M (IgM) nephropathy are variants of minimal change nephrotic syndrome (MCNS). Many researchers believe that these two conditions signify a worse prognosis for children with MCNS in comparison with immunofluorescence (IF)-negative MCNS. The aim of our study was to determine the prognostic significance of C1q nephropathy and IgM nephropathy in children with MCNS.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-five children with MCNS who had been biopsied over the course of 24 years at our institution were retrospectively categorized into three groups on the basis of IF microscopy findings: IF-negative MCNS (29/55 patients), MCNS with IgM nephropathy (19/55 patients), and MCNS with C1q nephropathy (7/55 patients). Clinical characteristics at disease presentation, clinical course, and renal outcome were compared between groups during the median follow-up period of 16.9 years (minimum 1.0, maximum 31.1 years).
  
  
  RESULTS
  No statistically significant differences in clinical characteristics at disease presentation, clinical course, and renal outcome were found. Children with IgM nephropathy, C1q nephropathy, and IF-negative MCNS were clinically indistinguishable.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We concluded that C1q or IgM nephropathy variants do not seem to signify a worse prognosis in children with MCNS in comparison with IF-negative MCNS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Nephrology, University Medical Centre, Bohoričeva 20, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Mateja
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vintar Spreitzer
authors.forename: Alenka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vizjak
authors.forename: Dušan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ferluga
authors.forename: Rajko B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Kenda
authors.forename: Tanja
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kersnik Levart
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015922:Complement C1q / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000378:metabolism*; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009402:Nephrosis, Lipoid / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D015922:Complement C1q