Nephrotic syndrome is a group of symptoms including protein in the urine (more than 3.5 grams per day), low blood protein levels, high cholesterol levels, and swelling. The urine may also contain fat, which can be seen under the microscope.
Alternative Names
Nephrosis
Causes, incidence, and risk factors
Nephrotic syndrome is caused by various disorders that damage the kidneys, particularly the basement membrane of the glomerulus. This immediately causes abnormal excretion of protein in the urine.
It can accompany kidney disorders such as glomerulonephritis, focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis, and mesangiocapillary glomerulonephritis.
Nephrotic syndrome can affect all age groups. In children, it is most common from age 2 to 6. This disorder occurs slightly more often in males than females.
Kidney stones (5 images)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
A kidney stone is a solid mass made up of tiny crystals. One or more stones can be in the kidney or ureter at the same time.Reviewer: Louis S. Liou, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Urology, Department of Surgery, Boston University School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc. Date: 01/14/2009
Bladder outlet obstruction (4 images)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Bladder outlet obstruction(BOO) is a blockage at the base of the bladder that reduces or prevents the flow of urine into the urethra, the tube that carries urine out of the body.Bladder outlet obstruction can have many different causes, inclu...Reviewer: Scott M. Gilbert, MD, Department of Urology, Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 05/22/2008
Bladder stones (2 images)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Bladder stones are hard buildups of minerals that form in the urinary bladder.Stones- bladder; Urinary tract stones; Bladder calculi.Bladder stones are usually the result of another urologic problem, such as:.Bladder diverticulum Enlarged prostate...Reviewer: Scott M. Gilbert, MD, Department of Urology, Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 05/22/2008
Congenital nephrotic syndrome (2 images)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Congenital nephrotic syndrome is disorder passed down through families in which a baby develops protein in the urine and swelling of the body. Congenital means it is present from birth.Reviewer: Parul Patel, MD, Private Practice specializing in Nephrology and Kidney and Pancreas Transplantation, Affiliated with California Pacific Medical Center, Department of Transplantation, San Francisco, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 07/11/2008
Kidney disease (2 images)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Kidney disease is any disease or disorder that affects the function of the kidneys. This may include:.Reviewer: Parul Patel, MD, Private Practice specializing in Nephrology and Kidney and Pancreas Transplantation, Affiliated with California Pacific Medical Center, Department of Transplantation, San Francisco, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc. Date: 10/15/2008
Minimal change disease (1 image)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Minimal change disease is a kidney disorder that can lead to nephrotic syndrome, although the nephrons of the kidney look normal under a regular microscope.Minimal change nephrotic syndrome; Nil disease; Lipoid nephrosis; Idiopathic nephrotic synd...Reviewer: Charles Silberberg, D.O., Private Practice specializing in Nephrology, Affiliated with NY Medical College, Division of Nephrology, Valhalla, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 11/12/2007
Chronic bilateral obstructive uropathy (2 images)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
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