Nephrotic Syndrome

What is Nephrotic Syndrome?

When your body starts to excrete too much protein in your urine, the condition is nephrotic syndrome. Kidneys filter the excess waste from our body and the damage to the clusters of the blood vessels of the kidney results in nephrotic syndrome. It is caused due to damage to the glomeruli, the structures in the kidneys responsible for filtering the blood. As a result of this damage, the protein in the blood leak into the urine and increases the excretion of protein(proteinuria). It is soon followed by a reduction in albumin levels in the blood. This condition may affect adults and children of both sexes. It is a disease specific to the kidneys, its glomerular inflammation is associated with the impaired kidney function.

Symptoms

The most common symptoms of nephrotic syndrome are:

Swelling (edema).
Weight gain.
Kidney failure.
Blood lipids.
Blood clots.
Infection.

Causes

The following are some factors that cause nephrotic syndrome:

Pre-existing medical conditions: Persons with medical conditions such as diabetes, lupus, minimal change disease, and other kidney disorders have an increased risk of nephrotic syndrome.
Medications: Consumption of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and antibiotics can also cause nephrotic syndrome.
Infections: Infections like HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and malaria can also contribute to nephrotic syndrome, as they cause the kidneys to go under undue stress.

Risks

The main risk factors include:

High blood pressure.
Infections.
Poor nutrition.
Kidney failure.
Infections.

Prevention

To prevent the occurrence of this disease, one should take care of:

Protecting oneself from cold or other infective diseases.
Having a healthy diet plan.
Exercising regularly.
Getting effective natural treatments.

How is it diagnosed?

At Medanta, our doctor will enquire about the symptoms and the family history of the disease. Tests will also be performed to evaluate the cause of the disorder and to get an idea of how serious th...

Blood tests
Urine tests
Intravenous urography
CT scan

How is it treated?

At Medanta, the treatment of any underlying medical condition which might also be a cause of nephrotic syndrome is the best bet to treating it. Meanwhile, some medications that are used to control the effects of nephrotic syndrome include:

Blood pressure medications

Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE inhibitors) can be used to lower the blood pressure.
Water pills (diuretics)

Water pills increase the fluid output of the kidneys and help in reducing the swelling.
Cholesterol-reducing medications

Drugs called statins are a good option to decrease cholesterol. But, it is still a matter of doubt whether cholesterol reducing medicines are of any help to a patient with nephrotic syndrome.
Blood thinners

These medicines reduce the risk of blood clots in the bloodstream.
Corticosteroids

This class of medication controls the immune system and helps in reducing the inflammation in the kidneys.

When do I contact the doctor?

You should immediately consult a doctor when you begin to face symptoms such as swelling, blood clots, infection, or weight gain. All these symptoms will be treated just right with the help of our medical expertise at Medanta.

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