Correlation between Proteinuria Selectivity Index and Kidney Histology of Nephrotic Children in Northern Nigeria

Proteinuria selectivity index (PSI) is a relatively simple test which in temperate countries has been used to select nephrotic children most likely to respond to corticosteroid therapy. It has been advocated that in nephrotic children aged 1 to 5 years renal biopsy could be avoided by doing PSI. The purpose of this study was to determine whether there is a correlation between PSI and kidney histology in nephrotic children in tropical Africa and whether PSI alone could be used in planning their treatment. PSI and renal biopsy were done on 40 nephrotic children. Histologic classification of kidney biopsies is presented and related to PSI values. No correlation was found between PSI values and histologic diagnoses.