CHILDNEPH is a pan-Canadian project to observe clinical care for children with nephrotic syndrome. Previous studies have indicated that there is wide practice variation in how health care providers treat this remitting and relapsing disease of childhood. The disease mechanism is not yet understood, and long-term use of steroids can affect children's health. This study involves assessment of routine clinical care and establishing a long-term patient registry for children with nephrotic syndrome.

CHILDNEPH is an ongoing prospective longitudinal study of children with incident and prevalent nephrotic syndrome. Children are recruited from 12 centres across Canada and followed for at least 30 months. The project starting in August of 2013 with the goal of following 400 patients. Data is collected at enrollment, beginning and end of each relapse, semi-annual visits and end of study. Detailed prescription data is collected regarding glucocorticoids and all second line agents. All relapses are recorded with time to urinary remission of proteinuria.

The investigators are moving towards registry based trials to determine optimal treatment protocols for nephrotic syndrome with an overall goal to minimize glucocorticoid exposure, a patient priority.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Diagnosis with Nephrotic Sydrome at initial presentation, first or second relapse

Exclusion Criteria:

• unable to participate in English or French
• Nephrotic Syndrome is secondary to other disease
• Younger than one year old or older than 17 years

Children (ages 1 to 17 years) who are diagnosed with Nephrotic Syndrome (minimal change disease or idiopathic NS) who present at a participating pediatric nephrology clinic in Canada.