Nephrotic Syndrome – Symptoms and Causes

Understanding Kidney Function and Issues

The kidneys work as powerful filtering systems in your body. Inside each kidney are filtering units called nephrons.

Each nephron contains a glomerulus—a tiny cluster of blood vessels called capillaries. When blood flows through the glomerulus, small molecules like water, minerals, and waste products pass through the capillary walls.

Larger molecules, including proteins and blood cells, normally stay in the blood. The filtered fluid then travels through the tubule where useful substances return to the bloodstream. The leftover water and waste become urine.

In nephrotic syndrome, the glomeruli become damaged. This damage allows proteins that should stay in your blood to leak into your urine. This condition leads to swelling, especially in the feet and ankles, and can cause other health problems if not treated.

Health Management Options

For people with kidney filtering problems like nephrotic syndrome, treatment focuses on:

• Addressing the underlying cause of kidney damage
• Medications to reduce protein loss and swelling
• Dietary changes to manage symptoms

Treatment plans often include:

• Medications to reduce inflammation
• Diuretics to help reduce swelling
• Blood pressure medications
• Dietary changes (usually lowering salt intake)

People with this condition need careful monitoring since nephrotic syndrome increases the risk of infections and blood clots.

Symptoms

People with nephrotic syndrome often experience several noticeable signs. Severe swelling, known as edema, typically appears around the eyes, ankles, and feet. The urine may look foamy because it contains excess protein.

Other common symptoms include:

• Unexpected weight gain from fluid retention
• Feeling unusually tired
• Reduced interest in eating

These symptoms happen because the kidneys aren’t filtering blood properly, allowing proteins to leak into the urine instead of staying in the bloodstream.

When to see a doctor

If you notice any signs or symptoms that concern you, it’s important to schedule an appointment with your healthcare provider. Don’t wait if something doesn’t feel right with your health.

Early medical attention can help identify problems before they become serious.

Why Nephrotic Syndrome Happens

Nephrotic syndrome develops when the tiny blood vessel clusters in your kidneys (glomeruli) become damaged. These glomeruli normally filter your blood, keeping important proteins like albumin in your bloodstream while removing waste.

When these filters don’t work properly, proteins leak into your urine, causing the symptoms of nephrotic syndrome.

Several Possible Triggers

Many different conditions can harm the kidney’s filtering system and lead to nephrotic syndrome:

• Diabetes-Related Kidney Problems: Long-term diabetes can damage kidney filters over time.
• Minimal Change Disease: The most common cause in children, where kidney function changes despite normal-looking tissue under microscopes.
• Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis: Involves scarring of some kidney filters, which may result from:
  • Other medical conditions
  • Genetic factors
  • Certain medications
  • Unknown causes

Nephrotic syndrome can also develop from:

• Membranous Nephropathy: This condition occurs when immune system deposits cause thickening of membranes within the filters. It may be linked to:
  • Lupus
  • Hepatitis B
  • Malaria
  • Cancer
  • Unknown causes
• Lupus: This inflammatory disease can severely damage kidney tissue and function.
• Amyloidosis: Abnormal protein buildup in organs that often harms the kidney’s filtering system.

Risk Factors

Several factors can raise your chance of getting nephrotic syndrome:

Health Problems That Harm Kidneys:

• Diabetes
• Lupus
• Amyloidosis
• Reflux nephropathy
• Other kidney diseases

Medications:

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
• Some infection-fighting medications

Infections:

• HIV
• Hepatitis B
• Hepatitis C
• Malaria

These conditions can damage the filtering parts of your kidneys, leading to protein leakage in urine and other symptoms of nephrotic syndrome.

Potential Health Issues

Nephrotic syndrome can lead to several health complications if not properly managed:

Blood Clotting Problems

The kidneys’ filtering units (glomeruli) may not work correctly. This can lead to the loss of important proteins that prevent blood clots. As a result, the risk of developing dangerous blood clots in veins increases.

Cholesterol and Triglyceride Imbalances

As albumin (a blood protein) levels drop, the liver produces more albumin along with extra cholesterol and triglycerides. This can lead to unhealthy blood fat levels.

Nutritional Deficiencies

Losing too much protein through urine can cause weight loss (sometimes hidden by swelling), anemia (low red blood cell count), low blood protein levels, and vitamin D deficiency.

Blood Pressure Issues

Damaged glomeruli and fluid buildup can cause high blood pressure, which may further harm the kidneys.

Kidney Function Problems

Nephrotic syndrome can affect kidney health in two ways. It can cause sudden kidney injury, where waste products may build up quickly. This sometimes requires emergency dialysis.

It can also lead to long-term kidney disease, which is the gradual loss of kidney function. This might eventually need dialysis or transplantation.

Increased Infection Risk

People with nephrotic syndrome face higher chances of getting infections due to changes in their immune system and protein loss.