Minimal change disease
Alternate Names : Minimal change nephrotic syndrome, Nil disease, Lipoid nephrosis, Idiopathic nephrotic syndrome of childhood
Symptoms & Signs
There may be symptoms of nephrotic syndrome: - Foamy appearance of the urine
- Poor appetite
- Swelling (especially around the eyes, feet, and ankles, and in the abdomen)
- Weight gain (from fluid retention)
Minimal change disease does not reduce the amount of urine produced. It rarely progresses to kidney failure.
Diagnosis & Tests
The doctor may not be able to see any obvious outward signs of the disease, other than swelling. Blood and urine tests reveal signs typical of nephrotic syndrome, including: - High cholesterol
- High levels of protein in the urine
- Low levels of albumin in the blood
A kidney biopsy and examination of the tissue with an electron microscope can show signs of minimal change disease. An immunofluorescence exam of the biopsied kidney tissue is negative.
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