An immunogenetic investigation was conducted of 82 patients with renal disease. 48 of them had nephrotic syndrome (NS) of different origin (glomerulonephritis, amyloidosis, diabetic glomerulosclerosis). The findings were compared to those obtained at control population studies of 619 healthy residents of St. Petersburg. A statistically significant increase in the incidence of HLA antigens A-10, B-13, B-35, B-41, DR-2, DR-7 and high homozygosity were found in NS patients. Antigen A-2 occurred statistically less frequently. A relative risk (RR) to develop the disease was in all cases > 2. Typing of NS patients and those with high diagnostic titers of antistreptolysin-O revealed in them a significantly higher occurrence (r < 0.01) of A-10 and B-40 antigens compared to controls and NS-free patients. HLA antigens appeared related to morphological variants of glomerulonephritis running with NS. The study results suggest association between genetic, etiological factors and body's response to injury. Feasibility of NS prognosis is reviewed.