M. Kopač
Klinični oddelek za nefrologijo, Pediatrična klinika, Univerzitetni Klinični center Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenija

T. Kersnik Levart
Klinični oddelek za nefrologijo, Pediatrična klinika, Univerzitetni klinični center Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenija

Abstract

In the review article »Guidelines for the evaluation of children with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome« the authors describe the basic terminology and define the nephrotic syndrome in children. Classification of the nephrotic syndrome in children is followed by a description of the clinical picture, diagnosis and differential diagnosis. Indications for renal biopsy in children with the nephrotic syndrome and complications of the nephrotic syndrome are presented. The authors emphasize that complications of the nephrotic syndrome itself and of the treatment are intertwined. Treatment of the nephrotic syndrome is both specific and symptomatic. Worldwide there are no generally accepted guidelines for the specific treatment of the nephrotic syndrome in children. Therefore, it is important that only one scheme is followed in each individual centre, as only in this described, and the proposed guidelines for treatment of the nephrotic syndrome and prevention of complica¬tions in Slovenia, which are the results of findings of foreign centres and our own experience, are presented. The contents of this article were coordinated and ratified by the professional board of the Department of Paediatric Nephrology in April 2011 and represent the current algorithm of this clinical department.

Key words: children, nephrotic syndrome, proteinuria, corticosteroids, immunosuppressive drugs.