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Although some cases of tubular dysfunction (TD) associated with nephrotic syndrome have been described, the incidence and the characteristics of this complication remain unknown. We investigated the presence of TD (renal glycosuria, aminoaciduria, metabolic acidosis with normal anion gap, hypouricaemia, and throughout hypophosphataemia) in 36 patients with nephrotic syndrome. Ten patients (group 1) showed glycosuria at some time during the course of their illness, ranging from 2.5 to 11.2 g/24 h. In addition, seven of them had metabolic acidosis with normal anion gap, five aminoaciduria, and two hypouricaemia. Membranous glomerulonephritis was the most frequent aetiology in group 1 patients (7 of 10). Proteinuria and serum creatinine (SCr) were significantly higher in group 1 patients than in the 26 remaining patients without TD (group 2): 10.2 +/- 3.7 versus 6.7 +/- 2.9 g/24 h (P less than 0.01) and 3.2 +/- 1.9 versus 1.6 +/- 0.9 mg/dl (P less than 0.05) respectively. The appearance of TD coincided with a clear worsening of renal function in most of group 1 patients. In addition, at the end of follow-up, SCr had increased from 3.2 +/- 1.9 to 5.6 +/- 3.3 mg/dl (P less than 0.05) in this group. In contrast, SCr did not show significant changes in group 2 (1.6 +/- 0.9 versus 2.1 +/- 2.2 mg/dl). In conclusion, a significant proportion (27.7%) of patients with nephrotic syndrome present TD data at some moment of their course; the appearance of this complication appears to be a sign of poor prognosis.

We report a 35-year-old man with adult polycystic kidney disease (APKD) that developed nephrotic syndrome accompanied by a rapid worsening of renal function. Histologic examination showed marked tubulointerstitial chronic abnormalities and focal glomerulosclerosis (FGS) lesions in 24% of the glomeruli. With captopril, an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, proteinuria showed a clear decrease, but renal function continued to deteriorate. No other cases of nephrotic-range proteinuria were detected among 65 APKD patients with renal insufficiency. Histologic examination of an other 12 kidneys removed from patients with APKD showed striking interstitial lesions, most of the glomeruli being normal. However, those patients with higher amounts of proteinuria had more glomeruli (14-32%) with FGS lesions.

We report a case of prolonged oliguric acute renal failure after renal transplantation under steroids and ciclosporin (Cs) immunosuppression. In the 2nd week when low fractional excretion of sodium values in the presence of oliguria (as expression of Cs nephrotoxicity) and high Cs blood levels were seen, a calcium antagonist drug was administered. Also, a Cs dose adjustment was made. Then, the diuresis and fractional excretion of sodium increased together with a progressive renal function. Although this evolution could be explained as a spontaneous resolution of postischemic renal failure, we speculated that in this case of established early Cs nephrotoxitity the effect of a calcium antagonist drug, such as nifedipine, could be beneficial.