WHAT IS GLOMERULONEPHRITIS: SYMPTOMS, CAUSES DIAGNOSIS, AND MORE

Crescentic glomerulonephritis

Glomerulonephritis is an inflammation of the kidney's small filters (glomeruli). The excess fluid and waste removed from the circulation by glomeruli exit the body as urine. Glomerulonephritis can develop quickly (acute) or gradually (chronic).

Glomerulonephritis can arise alone or as a complication of another disease, such as lupus or diabetes. Severe or long-term glomerulonephritis-related inflammation can harm the kidneys. The type of glomerulonephritis you have determines your treatment.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF GLOMERULONEPHRITIS?

The signs and symptoms of glomerulonephritis differ depending on whether it is acute or chronic, as well as the reason. You may not detect any signs of a chronic condition. A normal urine test result might be your first indicator that something is amiss (urinalysis).

Glomerulonephritis symptoms and indicators may include:

Hypertension (high blood pressure)

Fluid retention (edema) accompanied by swelling in your face, hands, feet, and belly

Urinating less frequently than normal

Urine that is pink or cola-colored due to red blood cells in your urine (hematuria)

Urine that is foamy or bubbling owing to an overabundance of protein in the urine (proteinuria)

Vomiting and nausea

Cramps in the muscles

Fatigue

WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF GLOMERULONEPHRITIS?

Glomerulonephritis can be caused by a variety of diseases. The condition can run in families, yet the reason is not always understood. The following conditions are examples of factors that might cause glomerular inflammation.

Infections

Infectious diseases can cause glomerulonephritis either directly or indirectly. Among these infections are:

Post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis: Glomerulonephritis can occur a week or two after recovering from a strep throat infection or, in rare cases, a streptococcal skin infection (impetigo). When antibodies against microorganisms accumulate in the glomeruli, inflammation develops. Children are more prone than adults to have post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis, and they also recover faster.

Bacterial endocarditis: Bacterial endocarditis is an infection of the inner lining of the chambers and valves of your heart. It is unclear whether kidney inflammation is caused only by immune system activity or by additional mechanisms.

Viral kidney infections: Viral kidney infections, such as hepatitis B and C, induce inflammation of the glomeruli and other renal tissues.

HIV: Even before the start of AIDS, infection with the HIV virus can induce glomerulonephritis and gradual kidney damage.

Autoimmune diseases

Autoimmune disorders are conditions that occur when the immune system attacks healthy tissues. The following autoimmune disorders can produce glomerulonephritis:

Lupus: Systemic lupus erythematosus is a chronic inflammatory illness that can damage many parts of your body, including your skin, joints, kidneys, blood cells, heart, and lungs.

Goodpasture's syndrome: The immune system produces antibodies against tissues in the lungs and kidneys in this uncommon condition, also known as anti-GBM sickness. It can cause gradual and irreversible renal damage.

IgA nephropathy: Immunoglobulin A (IgA) is a kind of antibody that serves as the body's initial line of defense against infectious pathogens. IgA nephropathy arises when antibody deposits form in the glomeruli. For a long period, the inflammation and resultant damage may go undiagnosed. Blood in the urine is the most prevalent sign.

Vasculitis

Vasculitis is a blood vessel inflammation. The following types of vasculitis can produce glomerulonephritis:

Polyarteritis: This kind of vasculitis affects medium and small blood vessels throughout the body, including the kidneys, skin, muscles, joints, and digestive tract.

Granulomatosis with polyangiitis: This kind of vasculitis, also known as Wegener's granulomatosis, affects the small and medium blood vessels in the lungs, upper airways, and kidneys.

Sclerotic conditions

Some illnesses or disorders produce glomeruli scarring, resulting in poor and deteriorating kidney function. These are some examples:

High blood pressure: Long-term, poorly controlled high blood pressure can induce glomerulosclerosis and inflammation. Glomerulonephritis impairs the kidney's ability to regulate blood pressure.

Diabetic kidney disease (diabetic nephropathy): High blood sugar levels cause glomeruli scarring and increase the pace of blood flow through the nephrons.

Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis: Scarring is dispersed among some of the glomeruli in this situation. This might be the effect of another sickness, or it could happen for no apparent cause.

Other causes

Chronic glomerulonephritis seldom runs in families. Alport syndrome, a hereditary type, may also affect hearing or vision.

Glomerulonephritis has been linked to several malignancies, including gastric cancer, lung cancer, and chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

WHAT ARE THE COMPLICATIONS OF GLOMERULONEPHRITIS?

Glomerulonephritis impairs nephrons' capacity to filter blood effectively. The filtering breakdown results in:

Wastes or poisons build up in the bloodstream.

Inadequate mineral and nutrient control

Red blood cell loss

Protein loss in the blood

Glomerulonephritis can lead to the following complications:

Acute kidney failure: Acute kidney failure is characterized by a sudden and fast reduction in kidney function, which is frequently accompanied with an infectious etiology of glomerulonephritis. If not treated quickly using an artificial filtration system, waste and fluid buildup might be life-threatening (dialysis). Following healing, the kidneys frequently restore normal function.

High blood pressure: Inflammation or scarring of the glomeruli can cause blood pressure to rise.

Chronic kidney disease: Chronic inflammation causes long-term kidney damage and decline in function. Chronic renal disease is defined as kidney damage or impaired function lasting three months or more. Chronic kidney disease can progress to end-stage renal disease, requiring dialysis or a kidney transplant.

Nephrotic syndrome: Nephrotic syndrome is a disorder in which there is an excess of blood protein in the urine but not enough in the circulation. These proteins help to regulate fluid and cholesterol levels. High cholesterol, high blood pressure, and swelling (edema) of the face, hands, feet, and belly arise from a reduction in blood proteins. Nephrotic syndrome can induce a blood clot in a renal blood artery in rare cases.

HOW IS GLOMERULONEPHRITIS DIAGNOSED?

Glomerulonephritis can be detected by tests if you have a severe illness, or through routine testing at a wellness check or an appointment to manage a chronic disease, such as diabetes. The following tests are used to evaluate your kidney function and determine a diagnosis of glomerulonephritis:

Urine test: A urinalysis can reveal indicators of impaired kidney function, such as red blood cells and proteins that should not be in urine, as well as white blood cells, which indicate inflammation. There may also be a shortage of waste products at the desired amounts.

Blood tests: Blood sample analysis can reveal higher-than-expected quantities of waste products in the circulation, the presence of antibodies indicative of an autoimmune condition, a bacterial or viral infection, or blood sugar levels indicative of diabetes.

Imaging tests: If your doctor suspects kidney illness, he or she may order imaging tests to look for irregularities in the shape or size of the kidney. These tests might include an X-ray, an ultrasound, or a CT scan.

Kidney biopsy: A special needle is used to retrieve tiny samples of kidney tissue for examination under a microscope during this process. A biopsy is performed to confirm a diagnosis and to determine the extent and type of tissue damage.

WHAT ARE THE TREATMENTS FOR GLOMERULONEPHRITIS?

The following factors influence glomerulonephritis treatment and outcome:

Whether you have the condition in an acute or chronic form

The underlying cause

The nature and intensity of your symptoms

Some cases of acute glomerulonephritis, particularly those caused by streptococcal bacteria, may resolve on their own and do not require therapy. If there is an underlying reason, such as high blood pressure, an infection, or an autoimmune illness, therapy will focus on that.

In general, therapy aims to protect your kidneys from additional injury while also preserving renal function.

Treatments for associated kidney failure

Renal failure is defined as the loss of 85% or more of kidney function. Dialysis is used to treat acute renal failure caused by infection-related glomerulonephritis. Dialysis employs a device that functions as an artificial, external kidney, filtering your blood.

End-stage renal disease is a kind of chronic kidney disease that can only be treated with dialysis or a kidney transplant.

HOW CAN GLOMERULONEPHRITIS BE PREVENTED?

Some types of glomerulonephritis may not be preventable. However, the following actions may be helpful:

Seek immediate treatment if you have a strep infection with a sore throat or impetigo.

Follow safe-sex practices and avoid intravenous drug use to avoid infections that can lead to some kinds of glomerulonephritis, such as HIV and hepatitis.

Controlling high blood pressure reduces the probability of kidney damage caused by hypertension.

Maintain a healthy blood sugar level to help avoid diabetic nephropathy.