Nephrotic syndrome in Zaire. Morphological and aetiological aspects.

Morphological and aetiological aspects of 88 renal biopsies for nephrotic syndrome (NS) from Zaire are reported. About 52% were associated with a single or multiple infectious diseases particularly of parasitic origin. Three additional cases were associated with local non infectious conditions including the sickle cell disease and the abuse of mercuric-containing compounds. However, the histopathology was indistinguishable in both "idiopathic" and parasite-associated NS, and showed a wide range of common glomerulopathies. We conclude that the glomerular damage of the majority of NS from this area is probably mediated by nephritogenic immune complexes induced by several parasitic diseases, and would need further immunocytochemical investigations.