RECURRENT HAEMATURIA IN CHILDHOOD - A 5-YEAR FOLLOW-UP

Twenty-eight of 36 patients with recurrent haematuria who had renal biopsy 5 years previously were reassessed. 50% of those seen had had no haematuria for the past 18 months. None had hypertension, raised blood urea, decreased creatinine clearances, or signs of renal impairment. Neither the use of steroids nor antibiotics correlated with the cessation of haematuria. Males who initially had persistent microscopical haematuria between attacks of gross haematuria were more likely to be still having symptoms. 6 patients had a second renal biopsy. In one in which the haematuria had ceased there was a diffuse glomerulonephritis, but in the other 5 there was little change from the initial biopsy. Comparisons are drawn between this group with recurring haematuria and patients with glomerulonephritis and anaphylactoid purpura studied at the same time. The final outcome of patients with recurrent bouts of gross haematuria will vary despite the initial similarity in clinical presentation and histopathology. Focal glomerulonephritis has multiple causes. In some children, the condition is reversible. In others, though haematuria persists, the course is benign and non-progressive. The immediate prognosis is therefore usually good, but the ultimate prognosis is poor in the few who have familial progressive glomerulonephritis. Careful evaluation of case material, periodic functional evaluation of the patient, serial renal biopsy, and periodic observation of the patient over a long period is needed to provide a more complete natural history of this group of diseases.