Minimal Change Disease Overview
Learn About Minimal Change Disease
Minimal change disease is a kidney disorder that can lead to nephrotic syndrome. Nephrotic syndrome is a group of symptoms that include protein in the urine, low blood protein levels in the blood, high cholesterol levels, high triglyceride levels, and swelling.
Minimal change nephrotic syndrome; Nil disease; Lipoid nephrosis; Idiopathic nephrotic syndrome of childhood
Each kidney is made of more than a million units called nephrons, which filter blood and produce urine.
In minimal change disease, there is damage to the glomeruli. These are the tiny blood vessels inside the nephron where blood is filtered to make urine and waste is removed. The disease gets its name because this damage is not visible under a regular microscope. It can only be seen under a very powerful microscope called an electron microscope.
Minimal change disease is the most common cause of nephrotic syndrome in children. It is also seen in adults with nephrotic syndrome, but is less common.
The cause is unknown, but the disease may occur after or be related to:
- Allergic reactions
- Use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
- Tumors
- Vaccinations (flu and pneumococcal, though rare)
- Viral infections
There may be symptoms of nephrotic syndrome, including:
- Foamy appearance of the urine
- Poor appetite
- Swelling (especially around the eyes, feet and ankles, and in the abdomen)
- Weight gain (from fluid retention)
Minimal change disease does not reduce the amount of urine produced. It rarely progresses to kidney failure.
Medicines called corticosteroids (or steroids) can cure minimal change disease in most children. Some children may need to stay on steroids to keep the disease from returning.
Steroids are effective in adults, but less so in children. Adults may have more frequent relapses and become dependent on steroids.
If steroids are not effective, the provider will likely suggest other medicines.
Swelling may be treated with:
- ACE inhibitor medicines
- Blood pressure control
- Diuretics (water pills)
You may also be told to reduce the amount of salt in your diet.
State University Of Iowa
Diana Jalal is a Nephrologist in Iowa City, Iowa. Dr. Jalal and is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Minimal Change Disease. Her top areas of expertise are Chronic Kidney Disease, Nephrosclerosis, Renovascular Hypertension, and Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease. Dr. Jalal is currently accepting new patients.
State University Of Iowa
Michael Lee is a Nephrologist in Iowa City, Iowa. Dr. Lee and is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Minimal Change Disease. His top areas of expertise are Chronic Kidney Disease, Minimal Change Disease, End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), and Nephrosclerosis. Dr. Lee is currently accepting new patients.
State University Of Iowa
Carla Nester is a Pediatric Nephrologist and a Nephrologist in Iowa City, Iowa. Dr. Nester and is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Minimal Change Disease. Her top areas of expertise are Atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (aHUS), D-Plus Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome, Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome, Membranoproliferative Glomerulonephritis, and Kidney Transplant. Dr. Nester is currently accepting new patients.
Children usually respond better to corticosteroids than adults. Children often respond within the first month of treatment.
A relapse can occur. The condition may improve after long-term treatment with corticosteroids and medicines that suppress the immune system (immunosuppressants).
Contact your provider if:
- You develop symptoms of minimal change disease
- You have this disorder and your symptoms get worse
- You develop new symptoms, including side effects from the medicines used to treat the disorder
Summary: This is a parallel, Phase 2a, double-blind, 6-arm study for the treatment of primary focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) or primary minimal change disease (MCD). The purpose of this study is to measure the change in proteinuria and its impact on the rates of remission of nephrotic syndrome with frexalimab, SAR442970, or rilzabrutinib compared with placebo in participants with primary FSGS or...
Summary: This is an adaptive prospective, multi-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study to evaluate the safety, efficacy, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of WAL0921 in subjects with glomerular kidney disease and proteinuria, including diabetic nephropathy and rare glomerular kidney diseases (primary focal segmental glomerulosclerosis \[FSGS\], treatment-resistant minimal change di...
Published Date: December 31, 2023
Published By: Walead Latif, MD, Nephrologist and Clinical Associate Professor, Rutgers Medical School, Newark, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Erkan E. Nephrotic syndrome. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, et al, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 22nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2025:chap 567.
Radhakrishnan J, Appel GB, D'Agati VD. Secondary glomerular disease. In: Yu ASL, Chertow GM, Luyckx VA, Marsden PA, Skorecki K, Taal MW, eds. Brenner and Rector's The Kidney. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 32.