据报道,发达国家每年儿童肾病综合征 (NS) 的发病率是(2~ 7)/100000,每年儿童患病率是近 16/100000。[3]Schlesinger ER, Sultz HA, Mosher WE, et al. The nephrotic syndrome: its incidence and implications for the community. Am J Dis Child. 1968;116:623-632.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/5697193?tool=bestpractice.com[4]McKinney PA, Feltbower RG, Brocklebank JT, et al. Time trends and ethnic patterns of childhood nephrotic syndrome in Yorkshire, UK. Pediatr Nephrol. 2001;16:1040-1044.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11793096?tool=bestpractice.com[5]Wong W. Idiopathic nephrotic syndrome in New Zealand children, demographic, clinical features, initial management and outcome after twelve-month follow-up: results of a three-year national surveillance study. J Paediatr Child Health. 2007;43:337-341.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17489822?tool=bestpractice.com初次发病的年龄对疾病的分布频率有影响。对于 1 岁前,先天性(出生至 3 个月)和婴幼儿(3~12 个月)期发病的儿童来说,遗传性疾病以及感染,是通常的病因。在婴儿期之后但低于8 岁的儿童中,MCD 是主要的类型,占该期NS 病例70%~85%多。作为对比,只有 20% 至 30% 的青少年患者有 MCD。[6]Baqi N, Singh A, Balachandra S, et al. The paucity of minimal change disease in adolescents with primary nephrotic syndrome. Pediatr Nephrol. 1998;12:105-107.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9543365?tool=bestpractice.com一项对 1991 年至 2006 年在比利时进行的 326 例成人肾活检的回顾性研究显示,MCD 是成人中第三个最常见的原发性肾小球疾病,患病率为 19.1%。[7]Mesquita M, Fosso C, Bakoto Sol E, et al. Renal biopsy findings in Belgium: a retrospective single center analysis. Acta Clin Belg. 2011;66:104-109.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21630606?tool=bestpractice.com在儿童中男与女比率大约为 2:1,但在青少年中没有这个差别。西班牙裔和黑人患者比白人患者更易患有皮质类固醇耐药性 NS 或局灶性节段性肾小球硬化症。[8]Inguill E, Tejani A. Racial differences in the incidence and renal outcome of idiopathic focal segmental glomerulosclerosis in children. Pediatr Nephrol. 1991;5:393-397.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1911111?tool=bestpractice.com[9]Andreoli SP. Racial and ethnic differences in the incidence and progression of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis in children. Adv Ren Replace Ther. 2004;11:105-109.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14730545?tool=bestpractice.com[10]Bonilla-Felix M, Parra C, Dajani T, et al. Changing patterns in the histopathology of idiopathic nephrotic syndrome in children. Kidney Int. 1999;55:1885-1890.http://www.kidney-international.org/article/S0085-2538(15)46144-7/pdfhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10231451?tool=bestpractice.com