title: The relation between treatment and prognosis of childhood membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The prognostic factors, the outcome and the most favorable treatment regimen are not entirely known for children with membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN). MPGN is a rarely observed disease more prevalent in adolescents, so we aimed to review the clinical and histological properties, treatments and the outcome of our patients who were diagnosed as MPGN.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-one children - diagnosed with MPGN - were selected from biopsy records in Dr. Sami Ulus Maternity and Children's Hospital Pediatric Nephrology Department from January 1999 to January 2011. A retrospective analysis was made of 33 regularly followed children.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-three patients were identified, 13 female and 20 male. Their age groups at presentation ranged from 4 to 15 years. The following duration was 26-144 months (mean 74). Following the initial treatment, 20 (60%) patients achieved complete remission. Six patients with nephrotic syndrome and one with non-nephrotic proteinuria showed partial remission. The condition of one patient with nephrotic syndrome was unchanged with the persisting symptoms. The one patient with nephrotic syndrome and four others with non-nephrotic proteinuria did not respond to initial treatment as their renal functions decreased gradually.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We concluded that only degree of tubulointerstitial damage on the initial biopsy is determinative for prognosis of childhood MPGN. If the patient receives high doses of steroid therapy in the early stages, their treatment is more likely to be successful. The effect of immunosuppressive treatment on MPGN is not clear.
authors: Department of Pediatric Nephrology, Dr. Sami Ulus Children Hospital , Ankara , Turkey.
authors: Aysun
authors: A
authors: Çaltik Yilmaz
authors: Özlem
authors: Ö
authors: Aydog
authors: Sare Gülfem
authors: SG
authors: Akyüz
authors: Mehmet
authors: M
authors: Bülbül
authors: Gülay
authors: G
authors: Demircin
authors: Ayşe
authors: A
authors: Öner
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D015432:Glomerulonephritis, Membranoproliferative / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies
keywords: Adolescent; children; membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis; steroid