Causes of Nephrotic Syndrome in Children

Nephrotic Syndrome is not a single disease, but a group of syndromes characterized with a large amount of proteinuria, decreased protein level in blood, swelling and hyperlipidemia caused by glomerular damage. Many diseases and conditions can cause glomerular damage thus leading to Nephrotic Syndrome in children.

1. Minimal-change disease: It is the most common cause of Nephrotic Syndrome in children. Under microscopy, the kidney tissues are normal or nearly normal. At present, the pathogenesis of minimal-change disease is not clear yet.

2. Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis( FSGS) and Membranous Nephropathy
In the renal biopsy, about 20% of the renal tissues sample has glomerular scarring or deposition substance. FSGS and Membranous Nephropathy are two common diseases that can result in glomerular damage. The exact causes of the two diseases are not unknown.

Besides the above causes, Diabetic Nephropathy, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Amyloidosis also can cause Nephrotic Syndrome.

Moreover, some children may have congenital Nephrotic Syndrome. In this case, the medicines usually do no have much effect on the treatment of the disease. The babies have to maintain their lives by peritoneal dialysis until kidney transplant is possible for them.


The above has described the common causes of Nephrotic Syndrome. If you children have the above diseases, you should ask them to receive treatment at once so as to decrease the damage to their renal function.