Cause of Primary Nephrotic Syndrome in Adult Patients in Khuzestan Province

The glomerular diseases that cause nephrotic syndrome generally can be divided into primary and secondary etiologies. Primary nephrotic syndrome (PNS), is associated with glomerular diseases intrinsic to kidney and not related to systemic causes. The subcategories of PNS are based on histological descriptions and aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of its subcategories. In a prospective study, we evaluated all patients with primary nephrotic syndrome who referred to Imam Khomeini hospital of Ahwaz city, Iran, during January 2005 to August 2009. We also performed kidney biopsy for them and the specimens investigated by light microscope. Ninety two patients (53 male and 39 female, mean age. 52±32 years) were included. Mean serum creatinine and a median rate of urinary protein excretion were 1.47mg/dl and 5250mg/day respectively. The most common histological finding was focal and segmental glomerular sclerosis (FSGS) (28 patients, 30.43%),followed by membranous glomerulonephritis (MGN) (24 patients, 26.08%), minimal change disease (MCD) (12 patients, 13.54%), membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN) (10 patients, 10.86%), IgA nephropathy (8 patients, 8.69%), focal and segmental glomerulonephritis (FSGN) (4patients, 4.43%), mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis (3patients, 3.26%) and diffuse proliferative glomerulonephritis (3 patients 3.26%). FSGS is the most common and MGN is the second cause of primarynephrotic syndrome in adult patients in Khuzestan province.