Immunologic aspects of the nephrotic syndrome

The nephrotic syndrome is a clinical entity characterized by proteinuria, hypoalbuminemia, edema and hyperlipidemia. All the features of this syndrome are ultimately related to increased permeability of the glomerular capillary to protein. A specific disease entity in its mildest form may result in mild proteinuria insufficient to cause hypoalbuminemia and the other physiological manifestations of the nephrotic syndrome; the same disease in another patient or at another time in the same patient may cause marked proteinuria and the nephrotic state. The principal difference between proteinuria alone and that associated with the nephrotic syndrome in any specific disease would therefore appear to be quantitative, although it is likely that other factors play a role