Childhood primary glomerular diseases in the western region of Saudi Arabia

We report our institute experience on primary glomerular disease in children in the western region of Saudi Arabia over the last 18 years (1988 to 2006). A total of 169 cases were identified as primary glomerular diseases in children and adolescent with age range from first year of life till 18 years. Minimal change disease and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis were the com­monly encountered primary glomerular diseases (20.1%and 19.5% respectively), mesangioprolifera­tive glomerulonephritis IgM nephropathy (14.8%), IgA nephropathy (10.7%), postinfectious glome­rulonephritis (9.5%), membranous glomerulonephritis (7.1%), membranoproliferative glomerulone­phritis (5.9%) and mesangioproliferative glomerulonephritis with negative immunofluorescence (5.9%). The less frequently encountered primary glomerular diseases were congenital nephritic syn­drome Finnish type (2.4%), Alport syndrome (2.4%), dense deposit disease (1.2%), and mesangio­proliferative glomerulonephritis with IgG positive (0.6%). We concluded that minimal change di­sease and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis are the most common primary glomerular disorder en­countered in children in our series and with similar age distribution.