Nephrosis in a Boy

My son is 7 and has had some urinary leakage after urinating and some abdominal pain and was seen by a urologist. Showing me the ultrasound of his kidneys, she pointed out nephrosis in both kidneys. At the moment I understood that it was damage of the nephrons, but I never asked if it was permanent damage. I was very overwhelmed during the visit because he had severe constipation, the nephrosis, and crystals in his bladder and some phimosis. He has an underlying salt-losing endocrine condition that may have contributed to chronic dehydration.
I have seached quite a bit on the internet but all the information on pediatric kidney disease is about chronic conditions.
Does anyone know if nephrosis is ever a "curable" problem.

I understand we need that there may be a closing window of opportunity for the best treatment. . That is one reason I am questioning here.

I've never heard of a diagnosis of nephrosis simply by doing an ultrasound. It's always determined through a biopsy as far as I know.

I was diagnosed with nephrosis (aka minimal change disease) as a baby and I'm now 52. A biopsy that I underwent 20 years ago changed the diagnosis to focal segmental glomerulonephritis.


The condition is not curable but routinely treated with prednisone. Fortunately for you and your son, there are some new and exciting drugs out that may help stretch the time between episodes. Although I had a really rough childhood, I'm still here and doing well, although 50 years of steroid use has taken its toll.

I hope all works out for your son. If he is like most with the condition, he'll live a good life with some bumps along the way.

Post Edited (MarcJ) : 11/16/2012 3:44:42 PM (GMT-7)