Primary nephrotic syndrome in Qatar (Arabian Gulf).

Sixty-two children with primary nephrotic syndrome were studied. The mean age at diagnosis was 5.5 years (range 1.5-11 years). Fifty-five were initially steroid sensitive (88.7 per cent) and seven (11.2 per cent) were steroid resistant. Renal biopsies performed on six of the steroid-resistant cases showed focal glomerulosclerosis in three, minimal change disease in two and membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis in one. Of the 55 children who were initially steroid responsive, 12 (21.8 per cent) had a frequently relapsing course, while three (5.5 per cent) became steroid resistant. Two out of the 12 who had frequent relapses became steroid resistant and one became steroid dependent. Renal biopsies performed on six of these patients showed minimal change disease in five and segmental glomerulosclerosis in one. Renal biopsies of two out of three patients who were initially steroid responsive but who later became resistant showed minimal change disease in one and segmental sclerosis in one.