What is Nephrotic Syndrome
By: Paul FryattTotal Views: 92, Word Count: 591,
Nephrotic syndrome is kidney related disorder. Let us now focus on what is Nephrotic syndrome.
What is Nephrotic Syndrome?
Nephrotic syndrome is defined as a group of symptoms which include protein in the urine, low blood protein levels, high triglyceride levels, high cholesterol levels, and swelling.
In Nephrotic syndrome, kidneys get damaged causing them to leak more amount of protein from blood into urine. When kidneys are affected by Nephrotic syndrome, it has small pores in the podocytes which permit proteinuria.
Causes of Nephrotic Syndrome
· Nephrotic syndrome is caused due to different disorders that lead to damage of the kidneys, especially the basement membrane of glomerulus which causes abnormal excretion of protein in the urine.
· The most common cause of Nephrotic syndrome in children is minimal change disease.
· Membranous glomerulonephritis is known to be the most common cause in adults.
· These syndromes can also take place due to infection such as strep throat, hepatitis, or mononucleosis.
· Certain drugs used for the treatment of immune disorders, cancer, genetic disorders, etc. can also cause Nephrotic syndrome.
· Diseases like diabetes, multiple myeloma, and amyloidosis can cause Nephrotic syndrome.
· Direct kidney disorders like glomerulonephritis, mesangiocapillary glomerulonephritis, focal or segmental glomerulosclerosis can result into this syndrome.
· In this way, we can conclude that Nephrotic syndrome can affect people of all age groups.
· In children, it can occur from ages 2 to 6.
· This syndrome occurs more often in males as compared to females
Symptoms of Nephrotic Syndrome
Swelling is known to be the most common symptom. It takes place in:
· Face and around the eyes
· In the arms, legs and ankle
· In the belly area
Other symptoms of Nephrotic syndrome are:
· Foamy urine
· Weight gain due to fluid retention
· Loss of appetite
· High blood pressure
Signs and Tests of Nephrotic Syndrome
To know about the presence of Nephrotic syndrome, doctors prescribe the following tests in the laboratory. These include:
- Creatine - blood test
- Blood urea nitrogen test
- Creatinine clearance test
- Albumin blood test
- Urinalysis - where presence of urine protein is analyzed
- Analysis of fats in the urine
- Blood cholesterol level test
- Triglyceride levels test
Treatment of Nephrotic Syndrome
The principle of these treatments is to relieve the symptoms and prevent the complications. This can lead to delaying of progressive kidney damage. Treatment of this disorder may be needed for life.
· Controlling blood pressure is very important thing so as to delay with kidney damage. The patient should keep blood pressure at or below 130/80 mmHg. So to maintain this Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers are the medicines used to control BP.
· High cholesterol is treated to reduce the risk of heart or blood vessel problems.
· A low salt diet will help to reduce swelling. Use of water pills can also solve this problem.
· Low protein diet is also known to be the part of the treatment
· Along with this, Vitamin D can also used in case of Nephrotic syndrome and is unresponsive to therapy.
· Blood thinners are used to treat or prevent clot formation
In this way, now we know the answer of what is Nephrotic syndrome?
About the Author
Paul Fryatt, M.D. has been in this profession from last 24 years. He made great achievements in his profession. He made an initiative to open a Family Allergy Clinic in 1985 to help his patients who were not reacting to traditional allergy treatment programs. Moreover he has explored the treatment to overcome allergy symptoms to reclaim quality of life through his convenient, no-shots therapy.
Advice Rating: Not yet rated
Login to vote