Outcome of Renal Tissue Biopsy in Children and Adolescents Presenting with Features of Nephropathy at a Tertiary Hospital in Nigeria

BACKGROUND: Oedematous renal lesions are significant chronic
kidney diseases in childhood, with causes that may vary, especially
in light of emerging illnesses like coronavirus, environmental
pollution, and climate change. This study aimed to determine the
histopathologic characteristics of oedematous renal lesions in
children seen at a tertiary health facility in north-central Nigeria
between January 2010 and December 2023.
METHODS: This was a prospective study conducted on all
children aged 2-18 years who presented with features of
oedematous renal lesions between January 2010 and December
2023 at a health facility in north-central Nigeria. All eligible
patients underwent renal biopsy.
RESULTS: A total of 66 children with oedematous renal lesions
were biopsied, comprising 35 males and 31 females, with a male-tofemale ratio of 1.2:1. The age range of the subjects was 2-18 years,
with a mean ± standard deviation (SD) of 7.8 ± 3.8 years. Of the 66
patients who consented to the biopsy, the histological findings were
as follows: Minimal Change Nephropathy (MCNS)(n= 35 ,53.0%),
membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN) (n=5, 7.6%),
post-infectious glomerulonephritis (PSAGN) (n=3, 4.5%), and
focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS)(n= 2, 3.0%).
CONCLUSION: This study shows that the predominant
histopathologic characteristic of childhood oedematous renal
lesions was MCNS in the cohort of children studied.
KEYWORDS: Biopsy, Oedema, Child, Nigeria