Nephrotic Syndrome
What is it?
Nephrotic syndrome can develop when the filters in the kidney become damaged. Filter damage can occur as a result of a number of kidney diseases, such as infection, glomerulonephritis, and kidney cancer. Some of the diseases that cause nephrotic syndrome, such as nephritis, affect only the kidney. Other diseases, such as diabetes and lupus, affect other parts of the body as well.
Because the filters are not working properly, protein is allowed to leak into your urine in large amounts, which means that you have less protein in your bloodstream. As the protein part of your blood normally helps to keep fluid in your bloodstream, some of this fluid leaks out of your blood into your tissues, to give swelling.
What are the symptoms?
The main symptom of nephrotic syndrome is swelling, most noticeable in the legs when you have been standing for a long time, or under your eyes when you wake up first thing in the morning. Swelling can also occur around the abdomen, the chest and the face. You may notice that your urine looks foamy, this is due to the protein in the urine, and your blood pressure may also be high.
How is it diagnosed?
Your doctor can detect the protein in your urine by doing a simple test of your urine. Urine is collected over a period of 24 hours and then tested for protein. A blood test can also confirm whether there is fat in your blood, which is another symptom of nephrotic syndrome.
How is it treated?
The goals of treatment are to reduce symptoms, prevent complications and delay long-term kidney damage. In order to control the nephrotic syndrome, the underlying cause must be treated. Some of the underlying causes are treatable with medicine, leading to improvement of the nephrotic syndrome. Other underlying causes have no cure, and inevitably lead to kidney failure. This is why it is very important for your doctor to find out the underlying cause of your condition.
To manage the symptoms of the nephrotic syndrome itself, you will be given diuretics (water pills) that increase the amount of urine you pass and so decrease your swelling (swelling is excess fluid in the tissues). In children, treatment with high doses of steroids will stop the kidney 'protein leak' in 90 per cent of cases. This is not as effective in adults.
Further information
Your local GP surgery is the best place for you to find information on polycystic kidney disease, especially if you have specific concerns about your symptoms and treatment. Charities related to the kidney can also be useful sources of information and support.
Nephrotic Syndrome in Children Support Group www.nephrotic.co.uk
Kidneywise www.kidneywise.com
UK National Kidney Foundation www.kidney.org.uk
