[Chronically occurring glomerular nephropathies in children (the morphological and immunological characteristics and morphogenetic problems)].

Three hundred ten children varying in ages from 2 to 15 years suffering from glomerulopathies (GP) of different etiologies including glomerulonephritis, hereditary nephritis, GP in renal congenital abnormalities of position and quantity were examined using methods of clinical morphology, with determinations of immunological values of T- and B-cell immunity and examinations of kidney biopsies by light, luminescent and electron microscopy (transmissive and scanning). Ten clinico-immuno-morphological variants of glomerular nephropathy were distinguished and characterized. Manifestations of GP were found to depend considerably on the age of the patient the influence of which was superimposed on the effect of etiological factors. GP morphogenesis depends on differences in the level and ratio of activity of immune reactions which parallel the state of glomerular cells and types of changes in its structure. Most specific features of pediatric GP include minimal and proliferative (mesangial) variants in which hypoplasia of glomerular elements and instability of cytomembranes of nephron are frequently found.