Epidemiology and clinical outcomes of acute glomerulonephritis in a teaching hospital in North India

Context: Acute glomerulonephritis (AGN) is a major cause of morbidity in developing countries like India. AGN includes both infectious and non infectious causes leading to immunological insult to the kidney. Aims: This study is an attempt to evaluate the clinical characteristics, complications and outcome of acute glomerulonephritis. Settings and Design: This hospital based descriptive study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital in North India. Materials and Methods: 50 children with AGN were recruited and analyzed over a period of one year. Detailed clinical examination and relevant laboratory investigations were done. Children were followed up for 6 months. Statistical Analysis Used: Data analysis was done using SPSS software and the results obtained are shown in the form of frequencies along with percentages. Results: 50 patients were enrolled in the study with male to female ratio of 1.72:1. Pharyngitis was the most common predisposing condition (70.2%). 22(40.4%) of patients had developed complications. Of this acute kidney injury with significant pulmonary edema was seen in 16 patients and 6 patients had encephalopathy with seizures. Two patients had to be managed with hemodialysis. 42 patients had positive CRP (>10) and ASO titres were >200 Todd units in all patients. At 6 months' majority of patients had complete clinical recovery with microscopic hematuria present only in 8 patients, persistent hypertension in 2 patients, 8 patients had proteinuria. These patients are being still followed up. Conclusions: Complications and morbidity is significantly high during the acute phase in AGN. Non infectious causes should also be kept in mind. This study highlights the complications requiring intensive care and need for long term follow up.