Evaluation of the Child with Asymptomatic Proteinuria
Leonard G. Feld MD, PhD1
Morris J. Schoeneman MD2
Frederick J. Kaskel MD, PhD3
1 Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, State University of New York at Buffalo; Chief, Division of Pediatric Nephrology, Children's Hospital of Buffalo, Buffalo
2 Associate Professor of Clinical Pediatrics, Mount Sinai School of Medicine; Director, Division of Pediatric Nephrology and Attending Pediatrician, Beth Israel Medical Center, New York
3 Assistant Professor of Pediatrics and Director, Division of Pediatric Nephrology, State University of New York at Stony Brook, Stony Brook
Asymptomatic proteinuria is defined as the discovery of proteinuria on a routine examination without evidence of clinical disease. The prevalence is dependent on the age and sex of the child, as well as the circumstances under which the testing is performed. In the majority of cases, patients have transient or orthostatic proteinuria. The physician can assure the patient and parents that the prognosis is excellent. However, appropriate long-term follow-up is essential. On the other hand, persistent proteinuria represents a spectrum from a benign disorder to a disease which can progress to end-stage renal failure.
