What is the Prognosis of Minimal change disease?
The vast majority of children with Minimal change disease have a favorable prognosis.
In children, a prompt remission within 7 to 9 days of steroid therapy, the absence of microhematuria, and age greater than 4 years at presentation predict fewer relapses.
By 10 years from diagnosis, only 16% of children with MCD are still experiencing relapses.
Many children will “outgrow” their disease by or during adolescence, although some continue to experience relapses into adulthood.
The long-term cardiovascular risk in children with Minimal change disease who have experienced long periods of steroid therapy and periods of hyperlipidemia and hypertension is largely unknown.
In adults with Minimal change disease the most important prognostic factor is the patient’s initial response to steroid therapy and whether he or she can experience extended periods of time off steroids, which carry a more serious toxicity profile in adults.
