Nephrotic syndrome is a collection of findings resulting from glomerular dysfunction with an increase in glomerular capillary wall permeability associated with pronounced proteinuria. Nephrotic syndrome refers to the constellation of clinical findings that result from severe renal loss of protein, with Proteinuria and hypoalbuminemia, edema, and hyperlipidemia.

Increased levels of protein in the urine.

An anomaly of podocyte morphology characterized by the loss of the interdigitating foot process pattern (generally called foot process effacement; FPE). The term FPE designates the loss of the usual interdigitating pattern of foot processes of neighboring podocytes, leading to relatively broad expanses of podocyte processes covering the glomerular basement membrane (GBM). It is widely viewed as a pathological derangement that is associated with leakage of macromolecules such as albumin through the glomerular filtration barrier.

Ulcerative colitis is a chronic disorder that affects the digestive system. This condition is characterized by abnormal inflammation of the inner surface (epithelium) of the rectum and colon. The rectum and colon make up most of the length of the large intestine. The inflammation usually causes open sores (ulcers) to develop in the large intestine. Ulcerative colitis usually appears between the age of 15 and 30, although it can develop at any age. The inflammation tends to flare up multiple times throughout a person's life, which causes recurring signs and symptoms.\n\nThe most common symptoms of ulcerative colitis are cramping abdominal pain and frequent diarrhea, often with blood, pus, or mucus in the stool. Other signs and symptoms include nausea, loss of appetite, bowel urgency, fatigue, and fevers. Chronic bleeding from the inflamed and ulcerated intestinal tissue can cause a shortage of red blood cells (anemia) in some affected individuals. People with this disorder have difficulty absorbing enough fluids and nutrients from their diet and often experience weight loss. Affected children usually grow more slowly than normal. Less commonly, ulcerative colitis causes problems with the skin, joints, eyes, kidneys, or liver, which are most likely due to abnormal inflammation.\n\nToxic megacolon is a rare complication of ulcerative colitis that can be life-threatening. Toxic megacolon involves a widening (dilation) of the colon and an overwhelming inflammatory response. Ulcerative colitis also increases the risk of developing colon cancer, especially in people whose entire colon is inflamed and in those who have had ulcerative colitis for 8 years or more.\n\nUlcerative colitis is one common form of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Another type of IBD, Crohn's disease, also causes chronic inflammation of the intestines. Unlike ulcerative colitis, which affects only the inner surface of the large intestine, Crohn's disease can cause inflammation in any part of the digestive system, and the inflammation extends deeper into the intestinal tissue.

The occurrence of an immune reaction against the organism's own cells or tissues.

The presence of minimal changes visible by light microscopy but flattened and fused podocyte foot processes on electron microscopy in a person with nephrotic range proteinuria.

An abnormal elevation of the relative proportion of CD4+ to CD8+ T cells.

The presence of normal overall immunoglobulin levels with deficiency of specific immunoglobulins directed against pneumococci.

Normal peripheral blood lymphocytes, when stimulated by phytohemagglutinin (PHA) are cytotoxic for homologous and heterologous cells but not for autologous cells in monolayer culture. The cytotoxic effect is thought to be indicative of the immunological competence of the lymphocytes.

Presence of IgG antibodies in the dermoepidermal junction that are distributed in a linear pattern. This feature can be appreciated by immunofluorescence microscopy.