The incidence and distribution of biopsy-proven renal diseases in children

Although renal diseases are not uncommon in children, the precise incidence of renal diseases in each age group of childhood has seldom been reported . In Japan, there has been an established urinary screening system for school students. By this system, pediatric patients with renal diseases can be identified at early stage. In order to confirm the diagnosis of the renal diseases and to select the appropriate therapy, renal biopsy is often recommended. However, renal biopsy has not been always performed, because it may be difficult to rationalized renal biopsy in children without apparent symptoms. Moreover, routine electron microscopic observation has not always been done, even when biopsy was performed. In this study, we reevaluated out cohort of patients by analyzing their light, electron and immunofluorescence microscopic features, to clarify the precise incidence and distribution of renal diseases in pediatric group of patients.