What are the diagnostic criteria for nephrotic syndrome?
Nephrotic syndrome is a syndrome that results from severe proteinuria. Heavy glomerular protein losses (≥3.5 g in an adult or >40 mg/m 2 per hour in a child) lead to the other three criteria for nephrotic syndrome: hypoalbuminemia, hyperlipidemia, and edema.
From a practical standpoint, measuring a urine total protein-to-creatinine ratio is preferable to collecting a 24-hour urine for protein. A ratio of ≥3.5 correlates with nephrotic-range proteinuria.