Incidence and prognostic importance of glomerular crescents in renal diseases of childhood.

The renal biopsies of 372 children with various glomerular disorders were reviewed and crescent formation was seen in 56 cases (15%). Four disorders, i.e. systemic lupus erythematosus, membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN) types I and II and Henoch-Schönlein disease accounted for 74% of 10 diagnostic categories. Idiopathic rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis (RPGN) was seen in only 2 cases. Crescents associated with MPGN types I or II or idiopathic RPGN had a bad renal prognosis, whereas the presence of crescents in other disorders did not necessarily affect the renal outcome. Immunofluorescent and electron microscopic findings are essential to distinguish many conditions which may be associated with crescent formation in childhood renal disease.