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Nephrotic syndrome is a chronic kidney disease characterized by fluid retention, high cholesterol, hypoalbuminemia, and proteinuria. It can lead to kidney failure and has several underlying causes, including FSGS and minimal change disease. Treatment includes medication and regular monitoring.
Nephrotic syndrome is a form of chronic kidney disease characterized by fluid retention and swelling (edema), high serum cholesterol levels, high serum albumin levels (hypoalbuminemia), and excessive amounts of protein in the urine (proteinuria). The latter is the most significant indication of the presence of nephrotic syndrome. This symptom is also one of the most significant adverse health effects as patients can be depleted of protein at a rate 25 times the normal rate in a single 24-hour period. Furthermore, this disorder is often responsible for kidney disease and kidney failure.
There are several underlying causes that can lead to the development of nephrotic syndrome, such as focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), a genetic disorder that attacks the kidney glomeruli and impairs the kidneys’ ability to filter out impurities. Minimal change disease, sometimes triggered by certain medications or food allergies, is the leading cause of nephrotic syndrome in young children. Unfortunately, the particular difficulty in determining the latter lies in the fact that the renal tissue often appears normal. Other secondary causes of this disease include diabetes, cancer and HIV infection. The incidence rate is higher in men than in women.
There are also a number of secondary complications associated with nephrotic syndrome. For one thing, the buildup of metabolic waste products and proteins in the bloodstream can lead to uremia, a condition that promotes toxicity, blood clot formation, and an increase in blood pressure. For largely unknown reasons, patients with nephrotic syndrome are also more susceptible to infections. Additionally, the disease can eventually cause complete kidney failure, necessitating dialysis or organ transplantation.
In terms of diagnosis, elevated protein levels in urine can be confirmed by urinalysis. The urgency of this test is often dictated by the appearance of foam or foam in the urine. Blood tests may be done to check levels of albumin, the water-soluble protein that causes excess circulating hypoalbuminemia. Additionally, it may be necessary to biopsy or stain tissue samples from the kidneys to check for scarring of the glomeruli that may have been caused by FSGS.
Conventional treatment of nephrotic syndrome consists of medications to manage its complications, as well as regular protein and fluid monitoring. Edema is typically addressed with diuretic medications. Proteinuria can be controlled with the use of an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor or an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB), which also help lower blood pressure. High cholesterol can be treated with various statins. Oral corticosteroids, such as prednisolone, may also be given to control tissue inflammation.
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