A collection of symptoms that include severe edema, proteinuria, and hypoalbuminemia; it is indicative of renal dysfunction

Symptoms of Nephrotic Syndrome

The following features are indicative of Nephrotic Syndrome:
  • hyperlipidaemia
  • loss of appetite
  • severe swelling (edema), particularly around eyes, ankles and feet
  • weight gain
  • fatigue
  • foamy urine
It is possible that Nephrotic Syndrome shows no physical symptoms and still is present in a patient.

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Common Causes of Nephrotic Syndrome

The following are the most common causes of Nephrotic Syndrome:
  • minimal change disease
  • focal segmental glomerulosclerosis
  • membranous glomerulonephritis
  • membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis
  • rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis

Other Causes of Nephrotic Syndrome

The following are the less common causes of Nephrotic Syndrome:
  • diabetic nephropathy
  • systemic lupus erythematosus
  • sarcoidosis
  • syphilis
  • hepatitis B
  • Sjögren's syndrome
  • HIV
  • amyloidosis
  • multiple myeloma
  • vasculitis

Risk Factors for Nephrotic Syndrome

The following factors may increase the likelihood of Nephrotic Syndrome:
  • slightly more often in males than females

Prevention of Nephrotic Syndrome

Yes, it may be possible to prevent Nephrotic Syndrome. Prevention may be possible by doing the following:
  • treating conditions that can cause nephrotic syndrome

Occurrence of Nephrotic Syndrome

Number of Cases

The following are the number of Nephrotic Syndrome cases seen each year worldwide:
  • Very rare between 1K - 10K cases

Common Age Group

Nephrotic Syndrome can occur at any age.

Common Gender

Nephrotic Syndrome can occur in any gender.

Lab Tests and Procedures for Diagnosis of Nephrotic Syndrome

The following lab tests and procedures are used to detect Nephrotic Syndrome:
  • Urine test: To detect amounts of protein
  • Blood tests: To show low levels of the protein albumin (hypoalbuminemia) specifically and often decreased levels of overall blood protein.

Doctor for Diagnosis of Nephrotic Syndrome

Patients should visit the following specialists if they have symptoms of Nephrotic Syndrome:
  • Nephrologist
  • Radiologist
  • Urologist

Complications of Nephrotic Syndrome if untreated

Yes, Nephrotic Syndrome causes complications if it is not treated. Below is the list of complications and problems that may arise if Nephrotic Syndrome is left untreated:
  • acute kidney failure
  • hardening of the arteries and related heart diseases
  • chronic kidney disease
  • fluid overload
  • heart failure
  • fluid buildup in lungs
  • infections, including pneumococcal pneumonia
  • renal vein thrombosis
  • growth retardation
  • hypothyroidism
  • vitamin D deficiency

Self-care for Nephrotic Syndrome

The following self-care actions or lifestyle changes may help in the treatment or management of Nephrotic Syndrome:
  • Choose lean sources of protein
  • Reduce fatty diet: To help control blood cholesterol levels
  • Eat low-salt diet: To help control the swelling (edema)

Alternative Medicine for Treatment of Nephrotic Syndrome

The following alternate medicine and therapies are known to help in the treatment or management of Nephrotic Syndrome:
  • Acupuncture: Improves the kidney function
  • Massage: Rehabilitation strategies improves the well-being of kidneys
  • Meditation: Improves the functioning of kidneys

Time for Treatment of Nephrotic Syndrome

While time-period of treatment for each patient may vary, below is the typical time-period for Nephrotic Syndrome to resolve if treated properly under an expert supervision:
  • Disease cannot be treated but only maintained or effects reduced

Related Topics

Last updated date

This page was last updated on 2/04/2019.
This page provides information for Nephrotic Syndrome.

Related Topics

Nephrotic Syndrome

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