The dynamics of the changes in the ultrastructural organization of the podocytes in the primary nephrotic syndrome in children

Combined clinico-morphological (including electronmicroscopy) study of kidney biopsies from 68 children has been performed. A group of 15 children, aged from 3 to 12 years suffering from nephrotic syndrome with minimal glomerular changes was separated. The biopsies were taken at the beginning of the disease, in the period of the most pronounced symptoms of nephrotic syndrome and during the clinical remission after the disappearance of proteinuria at the end of hormonotherapy (prednisolone). The reactive changes of the podocyte ultrastructural organization under functional stress are described as well as disturbance of membranous and non-membranous organellas of these cells in the course of the degenerative changes and necrosis development that corresponded to the breakdown of the compensatory-adaptive mechanisms in the high proteinuria of a long duration. The signs of the podocyte repair in the period of clinical remission resulting from the prednisolone therapy are described.