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