Nephrotic syndrome (lipoid nephrosis; idiopathic nephrotic syndrome; epstein syndrome)

General: Unknown etiology, although some connection seems to exist between use of various drugs (penicillamine, 535d34f heavy metals, trimethadione) and certain disease entities, such as intercapillary glomerulosclerosis, renal vein thrombosis, renal amyloidosis, and congestive heart failure; age at onset usually 1 to 6 years.

Ocular: Diffuse periorbital swelling; lid edema (mainly upper lids) more pronounced in the morning; uveitis; retinal edema around optic disk.

Clinical: Impaired renal function (depending on severity of renal involvement); anasarca (generalized and changing with time).

Drummond KN, et al. The nephrotic syndrome of childhood: immunologic, Clinical, and pathologic correlations. J Clin Invest 1966; 45:620.

Epstein AA. Concerning the causation of edema in chronic parenchymatous nephritis; methods for its alleviation. Am J Med Sci 1917; 154:638.

Forman AR, et al. Reversibility of corticosteroid-associated cataracts in children with the nephrotic syndrome. Am J Ophthalmol 1977; 84:75.

Fraunfelder FT, Roy FH. Current Ocular Therapy. 5th ed. Philadelphia: WB Saunders, 2000.

Iwasaki M, et al. Uveitis in nephrotic syndrome. Metab Pediatr Syst Ophthalmol 1993; 16:46-48.