• (nephrosis, lipoid) A kidney disease with no or minimal histological glomerular changes on light microscopy and with no immune deposits. It is characterized by lipid accumulation in the epithelial cells of KIDNEY TUBULES and in the URINE. Patients usually show NEPHROTIC SYNDROME indicating the presence of PROTEINURIA with accompanying EDEMA.
  NLM Medical Subject Headings
  U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2025
• (minimal change disease) Nephrotic syndrome that demonstrates little histologic evidence of pathology by light microscopy; ultra-structural change is evident under electron microscopy, demonstrating diffuse effacement and fusion of podocyte processes.
  NICHD Pediatric Terminology
  U.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
• (minimal change glomerulonephritis) A glomerular disorder characterized by the electron microscopic finding of loss of podocyte foot processes. Light microscopic examination does not show glomerular changes. Patients present with proteinuria and nephrotic syndrome.
  NCI
  U.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
• (minimal change glomerulonephritis) 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.
  Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO)
  The Human Phenotype Ontology Project, 2025
• Minimal change disease causes abrupt onset of edema and heavy proteinuria, mostly in children. Renal function is typically normal. Diagnosis is based on clinical findings or renal biopsy. Prognosis is excellent. Treatment is with corticosteroids or, in patients who do not respond, cyclophosphamide or cyclosporine.
  Merck Manuals
  Merck & Co., Inc., 2025
• Minimal-change disease (MCD), also known as lipoid nephrosis or nil disease, is the most common single form of nephrotic syndrome in children. It refers to a histopathologic lesion in the glomerulus that almost always is associated with nephrotic syndrome.
  Medscape
  WebMD, 2025
• Minimal change disease is a kidney disease in which there is damage to the filtering units of the kidney (glomeruli). It is the most common cause of nephrotic syndrome in children. Nephrotic syndrome is comprised of a group of symptoms including protein in the urine (proteinuria), low protein levels in the blood, high cholesterol and...
  NIH Genetic and Rare Diseases
  National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences
• Minimal change disease (MCD) is the most common form of nephrotic syndrome (a clinical condition characterized by heavy proteinuria, edema, hypoalbuminemia, and hyperlipidemia) affecting children. Studies in the US have shown that, between the ages of 2 and 8 years, 90% of children with nephrotic syndrome have minimal histologic changes...
  Epocrates
  Athenahealth, Inc., 2019