Glomerulonephritis

What is glomerulonephritis?

Glomerulonephritis is a group of diseases that injure the part of the kidney that filters blood (called glomeruli). Other terms you may hear used are nephritis and nephrotic syndrome. When the kidney is injured, it cannot get rid of wastes and extra fluid in the body. If the illness continues, the kidneys may stop working completely, resulting in kidney failure).

Are there different types of glomerulonephritis?

Yes. There are two types of glomerulonephritis—acute and chronic. The acute form develops suddenly. You may get it after an infection in your throat or on your skin. Sometimes, you may get better on your own. Other times, your kidneys may stop working unless the right treatment is started quickly. The early symptoms of the acute disease are:

• puffiness of your face in the morning
• blood in your urine (or brown urine)
• urinating less than usual.

You may be short of breath and cough because of extra fluid in your lungs. You may also have high blood pressure. If you have one or all of these symptoms, be sure to see your doctor right away.

The chronic form may develop silently (without symptoms) over several years. It often leads to complete kidney failure. Early signs and symptoms of the chronic form may include:

• Blood or protein in the urine (hematuria, proteinuria)
• High blood pressure
• Swelling of your ankles or face (edema)
• Frequent nighttime urination
• Very bubbly or foamy urine

Symptoms of kidney failure include:

• Lack of appetite
• Nausea and vomiting
• Tiredness
• Difficulty sleeping
• Dry and itchy skin
• Nighttime muscle cramps

What causes acute glomerulonephritis?

The acute disease may be caused by infections such as strep throat. It may also be caused by other illnesses, including lupus, Goodpasture's syndrome, Wegener's disease, and polyarteritis nodosa. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment are important to prevent kidney failure.

What causes chronic glomerulonephritis?

Sometimes, the disease runs in the family. This kind often shows up in young men who may also have hearing loss and vision loss. Some forms are caused by changes in the immune system. However, in many cases, the cause is not known. Sometimes, you will have one acute attack of the disease and develop the chronic form years later.

How is a diagnosis of glomerulonephritis made?

The first clues are the signs and symptoms. Finding protein and blood cells in your urine is another sign. Blood tests will help the doctor tell what type of illness you have and how much it has hurt your kidneys.

In some cases, a test called a kidney biopsy may be needed. In this test, a tiny piece of your kidney is removed with a special needle, and looked at under a microscope. A biopsy will help the doctor plan the best treatment for you.

Can glomerulonephritis be prevented?

Not until more is known about its causes. However, good hygiene, practicing “safe sex” and avoiding IV drugs are helpful in preventing viral infections such as HIV and hepatitis, which could lead to this illness.

If you have the chronic type of glomerulonephritis, it is very important to control your blood pressure since this may slow down kidney damage. Your doctor may tell you to eat less protein. A dietitian trained to work with kidney patients (a renal dietitian) can be very helpful in planning your diet.

What treatment is available for glomerulonephritis?

The acute form may go away by itself. Sometimes you may need medication or even temporary treatment with an artificial kidney machine to remove extra fluid and control high blood pressure and kidney failure. Antibiotics are not used for acute glomerulonephritis, but they are important in treat other forms of disease related to bacterial infection. If you illness is getting worse rapidly, you may be put on high doses of medicine that affect your immune system. Sometimes, your doctor may order plasmapheresis, a special blood filtering process to remove harmful proteins from your blood.

There is no specific treatment for the chronic form of the illness. You doctor may tell you to:

• Eat less protein, salt and potassium
• Control your blood pressure
• Take diuretics (water pills) to treat puffiness and swelling
• Take calcium supplements

What is nephrotic syndrome?

Nephrotic syndrome (also called nephrosis) happens when your kidneys start losing large amounts of protein in your urine. As your kidneys get worse, extra fluids and salt build up in your body. This causes you to have swelling (edema), high blood pressure and higher levels of cholesterol. Nephrotic syndrome may come from kidney diseases or from other illnesses such as diabetes and lupus. Some medicines, IV drug abuse and HIV (the AIDS virus) may also cause it.  Sometimes, nephrotic syndrome goes away after treatment. Other times, this condition may last for many years and eventually lead to kidney failure.

What treatment is available for nephrotic syndrome?

Your doctor may tell you to take prednisone. This medicine helps cut down protein loss. If prednisone does not work, your doctor may suggest medicines that affect your immune system. These are especially helpful in children and adults with a form of the disease called membranous glomerulonephritis.

Your doctor may also suggest:

• A low salt diet
• Diuretics (water pills)
• Blood pressure medications.

If you would like more information, please contact us.

©2013 National Kidney Foundation. All rights reserved. This material does not constitute medical advice. It is intended for informational purposes only. No one associated with the National Kidney Foundation will answer medical questions via e-mail. Please consult a physician for specific treatment recommendations.