NEW LOWER PRICES - ACT FAST
Medicine (MD/DO)
/
Courses
/
Pathology
/
Nephrotic Syndromes
/
Minimal Change Disease

Master Minimal Change Disease with Picmonic for Medicine

With Picmonic, facts become pictures. We've taken what the science shows - image mnemonics work - but we've boosted the effectiveness by building and associating memorable characters, interesting audio stories, and built-in quizzing.

DOWNLOAD PDF
Minimal Change Disease

Minimal Change Disease

Mini-cooper Jar-of-Change
Picmonic
Minimal change disease is a relatively benign disorder that is the most common cause of nephrotic syndrome in children. This disease is characterized by diffuse effacement of foot processes called podocytes of visceral epithelial cells. This podocyte effacement is visible with examination by electron microscopy while the glomeruli appear virtually normal by light microscopy. In minimal change disease, the glomerular basement membrane loses its negative charge which makes it unable to repel the negatively charged albumin. Therefore, this form of nephrotic syndrome is characterized by selective loss of albumin with minimal loss of immunoglobulins. This disease is typically triggered by a recent infection or immune stimulus like a prophylactic immunization and has dramatic response to corticosteroid therapy.
8 KEY FACTS
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
Nephrotic
Nerd-frog

Nephrotic syndrome is a group of symptoms including massive proteinuria defined as a daily loss of 3.5 gm or more of protein, hyperlipidemia, generalized edema, and hypoalbuminemia which results from renal pathology.

Most Common in Children
Child in diaper

Minimal change is the most common cause of nephrotic syndrome in children.

May be Triggered by Recent Infection or Immune Stimulus
Virus and Bacteria with Moon

This disease is typically triggered by a recent infection or immune stimulus, like a prophylactic immunization.

DIAGNOSIS
On Electron Microscopy (EM) See Foot Process (Podocyte) Effacement
Left side marked with (EM) Electrons in an atom with lack of Foot Processes

This disease is characterized by diffuse effacement of foot processes, called podocytes of visceral epithelial cells. This podocyte effacement is visible with examination by electron microscopy, while the glomeruli appear virtually normal by light microscopy.

On Light Microscopy (LM) See Normal Glomeruli
Right-side marked with (LM) Light-bulb with Normal foot process structures

This disease is characterized by diffuse effacement of foot processes, called podocytes of visceral epithelial cells. This podocyte effacement is visible with examination by electron microscopy, while the glomeruli appear virtually normal by light microscopy.

Loss of Negative Charge
Negative-signs flying Off the road

In minimal change disease, the glomerular basement membrane loses its negative charge, which makes it unable to repel the negatively charged albumin. Therefore, this form of nephrotic syndrome is characterized by selective loss of albumin with minimal loss of immunoglobulins.

Selective Loss of Albumin
Family album being tossed out

In minimal change disease, the glomerular basement membrane loses its negative charge, which makes it unable to repel the negatively charged albumin. Therefore, this form of nephrotic syndrome is characterized by selective loss of albumin with minimal loss of immunoglobulins.

TREATMENT
Responds to Corticosteroids
Quarter-on-steroids

Minimal change disease has dramatic response to corticosteroid therapy. Therefore, patients should be started on corticosteroids if minimal change is suspected, and if the response is inadequate, an alternative diagnosis should be suspected.

DOWNLOAD PDF

Recommended Picmonics

picmonic thumbnail
Nephrotic Syndrome
picmonic thumbnail
Membranous Glomerulonephritis
picmonic thumbnail
Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis
picmonic thumbnail
Membranoproliferative Glomerulonephritis
picmonic thumbnail
Diabetic Glomerulonephropathy

Take the Minimal Change Disease Quiz

Picmonic's rapid review multiple-choice quiz allows you to assess your knowledge.

It's worth every penny

Our Story Mnemonics Increase Mastery and Retention

Memorize facts with phonetic mnemonics

Unforgettable characters with concise but impactful videos (2-4 min each)

Memorize facts with phonetic mnemonics

Ace Your Medicine (MD/DO) Classes & Exams with Picmonic:

Over 1,960,000 students use Picmonic’s picture mnemonics to improve knowledge, retention, and exam performance.

Choose the #1 Medicine (MD/DO) student study app.

Picmonic for Medicine (MD/DO) covers information that is relevant to your entire Medicine (MD/DO) education. Whether you’re studying for your classes or getting ready to conquer the USMLE Step 1, USMLE Step 2 CK, COMLEX Level 1, or COMLEX Level 2, we’re here to help.

Works better than traditional Medicine (MD/DO) flashcards.

Research shows that students who use Picmonic see a 331% improvement in memory retention and a 50% improvement in test scores.