Nephrotic Syndrome - Symptoms & Treatment

Nephrotic syndrome is a malady where the kidneys have been damaged, causing them to leak protein from the blood into the urine. It can happen at any age, though it most often affects children between the ages of 18 months and 8 years. Nephrotic syndrome can occur with many diseases, including the kidney diseases caused by diabetes mellitus, but some causes are obscure. Prevention of nephrotic syndrome relies on regulating these diseases. Treatment of nephrotic syndrome focuses on assimilating the underlying cause if possible and reducing high cholesterol, blood pressure, and protein in urine through diet, medications, or both. One range of blood pressure medications called ace inhibitors also protects the kidneys in diabetic patients. Nephrotic syndrome may go away once the underlying cause, if known, has been treated. Nevertheless, most of the time a kidney disease is the underlying cause, and these diseases cannot be cured. In these cases, the kidneys may gradually elude their ability to filter wastes and excess water from the blood. If kidney failure occurs, the patient will require dialysis or a kidney transplant.

Nephrotic syndrome is a group of symptoms including protein in the urine (surpassing 3.5 grams per day), low blood protein levels, high cholesterol levels, and swelling. Nephrotic syndrome can develop from gradual consecution of a mild loss of protein in the urine or it can develop suddenly. Protein loss in the urine is accompanied by low levels of essential proteins, such as albumin, in the blood, increased levels of fats (lipids) in the blood, a tendency for increased blood clotting, and a greater susceptibility to infection. The reduced level of albumin in the blood leads to edema in spaces where normally there is no fluid and the retention of excess sodium. The type of nephrotic syndrome which is most common in children is called idiopathic nephrotic syndrome. Idiopathic means that a disease happens with no known cause. The most common type of idiopathic nephrotic syndrome is called minimal-change nephrotic syndrome. Idiopathic nephrotic syndrome is more common in boys than girls. There is a occassional nephrotic syndrome present in the first week of life called "congenital nephrotic syndrome." Intrinsic nephrotic syndrome is inherited by an autosomal recessive gene, which means that males and females are equally affected, and the child inherited one copy of the gene from each parent, who are carriers.

Causes of Nephrotic Syndrome

Common causes and risk factor's ofNephrotic Syndrome include the following :

Can be caused by certain conditions including diabetes, drugs, cancer and systemic lupus erythematosus.

Diabetic nephropathy (kidney complications from long-standing diabetes).

Glomerulonephritis (inflammation of the glomeruli from infection or other causes).

Diabetes.

Lupus.

Membranous nephropathy.

Minimal change disease (usually in children when nephrotic syndrome occurs despite slight or no variation to the structure of glomeruli or surrounding tissues upon examination).

Symptoms of Nephrotic Syndrome

Some common Symptoms of Nephrotic Syndrome :

Poor appetite.

Swollen abdomen.

High blood pressure.

Facial swelling.

Abdominal swelling or pain.

Fatigue.

Decreased appetite.

Shortness of breath.

Foamy urine.

Treatment of Nephrotic Syndrome