Information provided by Healthline.com

Genitourinary Disorders Health Channel

Feature Article

Illustrations for this article

Click on an image below to enlarge

Male urinary system

Nephrotic syndrome

Definition

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.

The most common cause in children is minimal change disease, while membranous glomerulonephritis is the most common cause in adults.

This condition can also occur as a result of infection, use of certain drugs, cancer, genetic disorders, immune disorders, or diseases that affect multiple body systems including diabetes, systemic lupus erythematosus, multiple myeloma, and amyloidosis.

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.

Symptoms

  • Swelling (edema )
    • general
    • around the eyes
    • in the extremities, especially the feet and ankles
  • Swollen abdomen
  • Facial swelling
  • Foamy appearance of the urine
  • Weight gain (unintentional) from fluid retention
  • Poor appetite
  • High blood pressure

Signs and tests

Physical examination can detect some symptoms. Other symptoms and signs of causative disorders can also be found with examination.

Urinalysis reveals large amounts of urine protein. Fats are often also present in the urine.

Tests to rule out various causes may include the following:

This disease may also alter the results of the following tests:
  • Urinary casts
  • Triglyceride
  • Protein electrophoresis - urine
  • Serum iron
  • Cholesterol
  • Albumin

Treatment

The goals of treatment are to relieve symptoms, prevent complications and delay progressive kidney damage.

Continue reading this article

More Articles

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. See also: Cystinuria Reviewer: Charles Silberbreg, DO, Private Practice specializing in Nephrology, Affiliated with NY Medical College, Division of Nephrology, Valhalla, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 08/14/2007

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. Reviewer: Neil D. Sherman, MD, Urologist, Essex County, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Date: 06/13/2006

Bladder stones (2 images) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Bladder stones are hard buildups of mineral that form in the urinary bladder. Reviewer: Neil D. Sherman, MD, Urologist, Essex County, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 06/13/2006

Congenital nephrotic syndrome (2 images) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Congenital nephrotic syndrome is an inherited disorder characterized by protein in the urine and swelling of the body (see also Nephrotic syndrome. Reviewer: David M. Charytan, M.D., M.Sc., Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 07/25/2006

Kidney disease (2 images) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Kidney disease is any disease or disorder that affects the function of the kidneys. This may include: Acute kidney failure; Acute nephritic syndrome; Analgesic nephropathy; Atheroembolic renal disease; Chronic kidney failure; Chronic nephritis; Congenital nephrotic syndrome; End-stage renal disease; Goodpasture syndrome; Interstitial nephritis; Kidney cancer; Kidney damage; Kidney infection; Kidney injury; Kidney stones; Lupus nephritis; Membranoproliferative GN I; Membranoproliferative GN II; Membranous nephropathy; Minimal change disease; Necrotizing glomerulonephritis; Nephroblastoma; Nephrocalcinosis; Nephrogenic diabetes insipidus; Nephropathy - IgA; Nephrosis (nephrotic syndrome; Polycystic kidney disease; Post-streptococcal GN; Reflux nephropathy; Renal artery embolism; Renal artery stenosis; Renal disorders; Renal papillary necrosis; Renal tubular acidosis type I; Renal tubular acidosis type II; Renal underperfusion; Renal vein thrombosis. Reviewer: Charles Silberberg, DO, Private Practice specializing in Nephrology, Affiliated with NY Medical College, Division of Nephrology, Valhalla, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 08/14/2007

Minimal change disease (1 image) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Minimal change disease is a kidney disorder. Each kidney is made of more than a million units called nephrons. Each nephron has a tuft of blood vessels called a glomerulus, which is surrounded by a structure called the¿Bowman's Capsule. Together, these structures filter blood and¿produce urine. Minimal change disease is one cause of nephrotic syndrome. It is named "minimal change" because the nephrons appear totally normal under a light (regular)¿microscope. The condition is only seen using an electron microscope, which reveals changes in the glomeruli. Urine tests also show high protein levels. Reviewer: Colm C. Magee, MD, MPH, Medical Director, Renal Transplant, Brigham & Women's Hospital, and Assistant Professor, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 12/09/2005

Chronic bilateral obstructive uropathy (2 images) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Chronic bilateral obstructive uropathy is the prolonged or progressive blockage of urine flow from both kidneys. Reviewer: Neil D. Sherman, MD, Urologist, Essex County, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 05/03/2006

Use Healthline to search the web for more Genitourinary Disorders information.

Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our Terms and Conditions of Use and Privacy Policy.