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Minimal change disease

Alternative Names: Minimal change nephrotic syndrome; Nil disease; Lipoid nephrosis; Idiopathic nephrotic syndrome of childhood Symptoms: There may be symptoms of nephrotic syndrome: swelling -- especially around the eyes, feet and ankles, and in the abdomen foamy appearance of the urine weight gain (from fluid retention) poor appetite Signs and tests: Text Continues Below The doctor would not be able to see any obvious outward signs of the disease, other than swelling. But blood tests and urinalysis would reveal results typical of nephrotic syndrome, including high levels of urine protein, low blood albumin levels, and high cholesterol. A kidney biopsy and examination of the tissue with an electron microscope would show the classic changes of minimal change disease. An immunofluorescence exam of biopsied kidney tissue is negative.

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