Eyelid and ankle edema

: A 57-year-old patient presented with periorbital and lower limb edema. The physical examination revealed no signs of cardiac insufficiency or chronic liver disease. Initial laboratory values showed significant hypoproteinemia and hyperlipidemia. Renal function was normal. Urinary protein excretion was 5.5 g/d. Thus, the patient was diagnosed to have nephrotic syndrome. The patient's history, the physical examination and further laboratory work-up suggested a primary glomerulopathy. Percutaneous renal biopsy was performed. The biopsy was diagnostic of minimal change glomerulonephritis. A therapy with steroids was initiated which induced a complete remission of the nephrotic syndrome. The patient has been relapse-free for the entire follow-up period.