The Nephrotic Syndrome

DiagnosisThe diagnosis of the overt form of the nephrotic syndrome is usually a simple matter. When edema is the presenting complaint, the unmistakable laboratory evidences of the nephrotic syndrome will be found. In a few cases edema is not the presenting complaint; in fact, the patient may never have had edema. The diagnosis of the nephrotic syndrome should be suspected when a routine urinalysis reveals massive proteinuria and the characteristic urinary sediment. The latent form of the syndrome is diagnosed when hypoproteinemia, hypoalbuminemia and hypercholesterolemia are found together with the characteristic urinary abnormalities, all in the absence of edema. . . .