Kidneys - nephrotic syndrome

Each kidney contains up to one million nephrons, the filtering units of your kidneys. Inside a nephron, there is a tiny set of blood vessels called the glomerulus.

The glomerulus filters your allowing excess fluid and waste to be removed in your urine.

What is nephritis? Nephrotic syndrome is a condition of the kidneys

It is usually caused by one of the diseases that damage the kidneys’ filtering system.

This allows a called albumin to be filtered out into the urine (albuminuria).

When the protein level in the blood drops, liquid seeps out of the smallest blood vessels (capillaries) all over the body and settles into the surrounding tissue, causing fluid swelling (oedema).

Treatment includes medications and dietary changes

What are the different types of nephritis? There are many different types of nephritis. It can vary from a mild, non-damaging condition to a serious problem causing kidney failure. Some types of nephritis appear mild at first but can later cause high blood pressure or become more serious.

Nephritis is often described as acute or chronic

The acute form develops suddenly, sometimes after a throat or skin infection.

These infections may need treatment such as antibiotics

Sometimes an acute attack can cause chronic nephritis years later. Some of the causes of nephrotic syndrome include: – nephrotic syndrome due to changes to the immune system is most common in children. It is called ‘minimal change disease’ because the kidney filters appear normal under a microscope.

The cause is thought to be changes in certain cells of the immune system. The function of the kidneys is normal and the outlook for recovery is usually excellent. Treatment may not resolve the condition, and the kidneys may gradually lose their ability to filter wastes and excess water from the blood erythematosus (SLE).

The symptoms of nephrotic syndrome include:

• intravenous fluids may be given to boost the body’s water content – these occur in the leg veins
• occasionally in the kidney veins

Blood clots can also go into the lungs and cause chest pain, breathlessness or coughing up of blood – infection and inflammation (peritonitis) of the peritoneal cavity. This is the thin elastic lining that contains the pancreas, stomach, intestines, liver, gallbladder and other organs. A fever may indicate infection anaemia.

Diagnosing nephrotic syndrome involves a number of tests, including: – excessive protein makes the urine appear frothy and foamy. A test for albumin/creatinine ratio may be done to measure the amount of albumin in the urine in relation to the amount of creatinine – these estimate the glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), which shows how well the kidneys are working Sometime further tests are needed: There are many types of nephritis and the treatment will depend on which type of nephritis you have.

Many types of nephritis require observation but no treatment, and rarely lead to long-term kidney damage.

Control of high blood pressure is the most important treatment for nephritis. Your doctor may prescribe medications to reduce your blood pressure and help to protect your kidney function. Fish oil supplements may help to reduce inflammation, and a diuretic (to remove excess water and reduce swelling) may also be suggested.

Talking to your kidney specialist (nephrologist) will help decide whether these are useful treatment options for you. New treatments are being tested to see if it can help to slow down kidney failure. helpline Tel.

How your kidneys work The kidneys blood protein Chronic nephritis develops silently over several years and can lead to kidney failure Causes of nephrotic syndrome changes to the immune system (minimal change disease or lipoid nephrosis) inflammation – local inflammation or swelling damages and scars the kidney filters.

Examples of this are focal segmental glomerulosclerosis and membranous nephropathy other health conditions, which can lead to ‘secondary nephrotic syndrome’ – this can be caused by certain conditions including diabetes , drugs, cancer and systemic lupus Symptoms of nephrotic syndrome foamy and frothy urine unexplained weight loss general malaise (feeling unwell) oedema (fluid retention or swelling), particularly around the abdomen (belly area), legs and eyes muscle wasting stomach pain loss of appetite fatigue Complications of nephrotic syndrome dehydration blood clots infection kidney failure – without treatment, the kidneys may fail in extreme cases high blood pressure Diagnosis of nephrotic syndrome urine tests blood tests kidney biopsy A needle is passed through your skin into the kidney to remove a small piece of kidney tissue to be checked under a microscope. ultrasound An instrument is moved over the skin, sending and receiving signals to make pictures of your organs, including kidneys and bladder.

Tomography (CT) Scan or Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MR I) Radio-frequency wavelengths and a strong magnetic field are used to provide clear and detailed pictures Treatment for nephrotic syndrome Where to get help Your GP (doctor) Kidney specialist (nephrologist) Kidney Health United States 1800 454 363 Kidney Health United States - Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis factsheet .

Key Points

• usually caused by one of the diseases that damage the kidneys’ filtering system
• Treatment includes medications and dietary changes
• Some types of nephritis appear mild at first but can later cause high blood pressure or become more serious
• These infections may need treatment such as antibiotics
• Sometimes an acute attack can cause chronic nephritis years later