What Increases Your Risk

Diabetes is the most common cause of nephrotic syndrome in adults in the United States. About one-third of children who develop nephrotic syndrome have diabetes.

You also have an increased risk of developing nephrotic syndrome if you have a disease that results in an impaired immune system, such as AIDS or lupus.

Nephrotic syndrome is a relatively rare disease that can occur at any age. In the United States, it affects between 2 and 7 people out of 100,000 each year. Children most commonly affected are between the ages of 18 months and 8 years. Boys are affected more often than girls.¹