Nephrotic syndrome
Nephrotic syndrome is a kidney disease in which a large amount of protein is excreted in the urine
Nephrotic syndrome is mainly the result of damage to the small blood vessels of the kidney These blood vessels normally filter and separate waste products from the blood Nephrotic syndrome causes swelling (edema), especially in the legs and ankles During nephrotic syndrome, the risk of other diseases is also increased
During the treatment of nephrotic syndrome, it is necessary to treat the underlying disease In nephrotic syndrome, the risk of infections and thrombosis is increased Your doctor may recommend certain medications and dietary changes to prevent these complications
Nephrotic syndrome is often caused by damage to the clusters of small blood vessels (glomeruli) in the kidney
Small blood vessels filter the blood in the kidney, i.e. remove unnecessary substances from the blood. A healthy glomerulus does not transport blood proteins, especially albumin, which is needed for fluid regulation in the body When the glomeruli are damaged, excess protein passes into the urine, causing nephrotic syndrome and associated symptoms.
Many possible causes Many diseases and conditions lead to glomerular damage and nephrotic syndrome. These are:
- Minimal change disease It is a common cause of nephrotic syndrome in children and is characterized by impaired renal function, although the renal tissue is microscopically normal or nearly normal. The reason for the failure of the function often cannot be determined
- Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis This disease is characterized by glomerular scarring and may be associated with other diseases or genetic inheritance.
- Membranous nephropathy This kidney disease is caused by thickening of the glomerular membranes The exact cause of the thickening is unknown, but it is sometimes associated with diseases such as hepatitis, malaria, lupus, or cancer.
- Diabetic kidney disease Diabetes causes kidney damage (diabetic nephropathy), which also affects the blood vessels
- Systemic lupus This chronic inflammatory disease causes severe kidney damage
- Amyloidosis This disease develops when amyloid proteins accumulate in the organs Accumulation damages the kidneys, which is manifested by damage to the filtration apparatus
- Blood thrombosis in the renal vein Renal vein thrombosis, when this blood vessel is blocked, sometimes causes nephrotic syndrome
- Heart failure Some forms of heart failure, such as constrictive pericarditis and severe right-sided heart failure, may be complicated by nephrotic syndrome.
Signs and symptoms of nephrotic syndrome include:
- Severe swelling (edema), especially around the eyes, legs, ankles
- Foamy urine due to protein in the urine
- Weight gain due to fluid retention
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