Frequent relapser minimal change nephrosis: an unrecognized X-linked disorder?

We report three brothers who developed nephrosis between the age of 3-10 years. The parents were nonconsanguineous and of Arab descent. The mother's sister had a son with a similar condition. Patients were steroid responders and frequent relapsers. Renal biopsies in the three brothers showed findings of minimal change nephrosis. This family may suggest the existence of an X-linked recessive nephrosis which provides further evidence for genetic heterogeneity of familial nephrosis.