What Is Nephrotic Syndrome?
One may have a collection of syndromes that gives the indication of kidney damage. Such collection of symptoms is the detection of a large amount of protein in the urine. This may be caused by the lower concentration of albumin in the blood. Albumin present in the blood helps in absorbing the necessary fluids from the waste water into the blood. The next is the presence of higher rate of fats and cholesterol in the blood. When fats and cholesterol are present at a higher rate it indicates the malfunctioning of glomeruli. These collections of symptoms lead to nephrotic symptoms.
Causes Of Nephrotic Syndrome
Nephrotic syndrome may have two kinds of causes. They are mainly primary and secondary causes.
- The primary causes of the nephrotic syndrome refer to only such diseases that cause damages only in the kidneys.
- The secondary causes include the diseases that may affect the kidney when a patient is suffering from it for a long time. Such diseases include diabetes or lupus.
Now take a look at the symptoms that may help you to understand the presence of nephrotic syndrome in your body.
Symptoms
As said earlier, nephrotic syndrome shows a collection of symptoms in the body. Tale a vivid look into them in this part of the article.
- Proteinuria – It is a case where a large amount of protein presence in found in the urine. It mainly indicates the malfunctioning of the kidney.
- Hyperlipidemia – Hyperlipidemia is a condition where more than usual or normal amount of lipids, that is fats and cholesterol is found in the blood. This condition may be reached by the poor or nonfunctioning of the glomerulus.
- The next common symptom of nephrotic syndrome may be the occurrence of edema. Edema is a condition that causes swelling in the body. The swelling is usually found in the legs, feet or ankles. The face and hands may also suffer from swelling in some rare cases.
- The other common symptoms may be:
- Gaining of weight
- Fatigue
- Foamy urination
- Loss of appetite may occur in some cases.
Diagnosis of nephrotic syndrome is not very difficult. But it should be brought to the notice of your physician as soon as possible.
Diagnosis Of Nephrotic Syndrome
The diagnosis of nephrotic syndrome is usually done through the testing of urine. There are but, many segments of the tests. Read this one by one in the following:
Urine Test- Nephrotic syndrome is usually diagnosed in the case when a large amount of protein is found in the urine. The urine sample may be collected and sent to the laboratory for such tests only under the vigilance of your physician.
Dipstick Test- Albumin tests by the dipstick process. A simple process detects the presence of albumin in the blood. This may be done in the clinic itself or can be sent to the laboratory for such tests. A strip called dipstick, prepared for the medical purpose, is dipped into the urine. The urine may be collected in a container provided to you by your physician. The strip is chemical covered. When the strip is dipped into the urine it may show some colored patches on it. The presence of these colored patches confirms the presence of albumin in your urine. This may be a confirming test for detecting nephrotic syndrome. The process is known as dipstick process.
The presence of keratin along with the presence of albumin also confirms the detection of nephrotic syndrome.
The presence of high level of lipids, that is fats and cholesterol in the blood may also be a symptom for the presence of the nephrotic syndrome.
These few symptoms are usually visible in a person suffering from the nephrotic syndrome. Now read about the treatments that are usually undertaken by the doctors when the syndrome is confirmed.
Treatment Of Nephrotic Syndrome
Nephrotic syndrome is usually treated by treating the underlying diseases or causes of the syndrome.
- The primary cause of nephrotic syndrome is the disease that damages the kidneys only. The causes may be the occurrence of high blood pressure, edema, presence of high cholesterol, diabetes etc. these diseases are primarily treated by medications.
- Pneumococcal vaccine is also provided to protect against the bacterium that causes infections. Blood thinning medications are also provided.
This is the overview that of the nephrotic syndrome. There may be complications at times which may occur when more than one disease persist within the body. Therefore, it is always essential to visit a doctor whenever you come across an anomaly in your body.
