Histopathological profiles of nephropathies in senegal.

Few data from West Africa are available on the prevalence of the different kidney diseases. One hundred fifteen patients underwent renal biopsy in the nephrology department in Dakar from 1993 to 1998. Nephrotic syndrome was the main indication of biopsy (67%). The primary nephropathies were found in 69.5% of the patients, the secondary nephropathies in 23.5% and unclassified nephropathies in 7%. Of the primary nephropathies, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis was found in 47% of the patients followed by membranous glomerulopathy in 12.5%. Secondary nephropathies were dominated by lupus nephritis followed by tubulo-interstitial toxic nephritis, misnamed as "tropical nephropathy", due to the intake of local home remedies.