Childhood renal disorders in Saudi Arabia.

An overview of childhood renal disorders in Saudi Arabia is presented, based largely on the experience in a large teaching hospital. The pattern of disorders is similar to that in other parts of the world, but the relative frequency of the various diseases appears to be different. Heredofamilial disorders are common, renal calculi are relatively frequent, and mesangioproliferative glomerulonephritis is a frequent cause of non-minimal change nephrotic syndrome. Preventable causes of end-stage renal failure include reflux nephropathy and posterior urethral valves. Although nephropathy associated with collagen vasculitides is not frequent, the prognosis of the disease is poor. IgA nephropathy appears to be a rarity.