Glomerulonephritis

Kidney cross section The kidneys remove waste and excess fluid from the blood through structures called nephrons. Each nephron contains a filter called a glomerulus that has a network of tiny blood vessels called capillaries. When blood flows into a glomerulus, tiny molecules — water, essential minerals and nutrients, and wastes — pass through the capillary walls. Large molecules, such as proteins and red blood cells, do not. The filtered solution then passes into another part of the nephron called the tubule. The water, nutrients and minerals that the body needs are transferred back to the bloodstream. The excess water and waste become urine that flows to the bladder. Glomerulonephritis (gloe-MER-u-loe-nuh-FRY-tis) is inflammation of the tiny filters in the kidneys (glomeruli). The excess fluid and waste that glomeruli (gloe-MER-u-lie) remove from the bloodstream exit the body as urine. Glomerulonephritis can come on suddenly (acute) or gradually (chronic). Symptoms Signs and symptoms of glomerulonephritis may vary depending on whether you have the acute or chronic form and the cause. You may notice no symptoms of chronic disease. Your first indication that something is wrong might come from the results of a routine urine test (urinalysis). Glomerulonephritis signs and symptoms may include: • Pink or cola-colored urine from red blood cells in your urine (hematuria) • Foamy or bubbly urine due to excess protein in the urine (proteinuria) • High blood pressure (hypertension...

Glomerulonephritis is a kind of kidney disease. It involves damage to the glomeruli, tiny filters inside your kidneys. It’s caused by a variety of things, from infections to problems with the immune system. Sometimes glomerulonephritis is mild and soon goes away. Other times it hangs around and leads to kidney failure and other complications. Overview What is glomerulonephritis? Glomerulonephritis is a type of How do glomeruli help your kidneys? Glomeruli are filtering units made of capillaries (tiny blood vessels) in the kidneys. They filter the blood and remove waste and extra fluid from the blood — the first step as the body makes urine (pee). Are there different types of glomerulonephritis? When glomerulonephritis starts suddenly, it’s called acute glomerulonephritis. When it happens slowly and lasts awhile, it’s called chronic glomerulonephritis. Some people can have an acute attack and then a chronic condition years later. Symptoms and Causes What causes glomerulonephritis (GN)? The reason glomerulonephritis appears is often unknown. But causes may include: • Genetics, meaning it runs in the family (this is rare). • Anti-GBM disease (formerly • Secondary to endocarditis, an infection in the heart valves. • Secondary to other viral infections, such as • Problems with the immune system attacking healthy parts of the body, such as with • Rare diseases that inflame blood vessels like What are the symptoms of glomerulonephritis? People with glomerulonephritis often don’t ...

The kidneys remove toxins from our bodies using tiny structures called nephrons. Each nephron contains a cluster of blood vessels called a “glomerulus” that functions as a filter, separating excess waste, fluid, and electrolytes from your blood. In rare cases, these blood vessels can be damaged by a variety of causes, including genetic conditions, infection, and medications. This disrupts the kidneys’ ability to remove waste, which can lead to other complications such as high blood pressure or kidney failure. This problem is called glomerulonephritis, which although rare, can be very serious. “Treatment for glomerulonephritis needs to be started very early,” says Common symptoms of this condition include blood in the urine, rash, joint pains, and difficulty breathing. Blood tests typically show an issue with kidney function. In very severe cases of glomerulonephritis, the kidneys can decline very quickly and the patient might show symptoms of kidney failure such as swelling (often in legs), The exact cause of this condition is not always known, but the current consensus is that an inciting event triggers an immune response in the body that sets off a chain of responses, causing inflammation of the glomeruli. Some of the known inciting events include infections such as In some cases, glomerulonephritis is caused by an inherited condition such as Alport syndrome, which is a condition that causes kidney disease, hearing loss, and eye abnormalities. If your doctor suspects tha...

Glomerulonephritis (GN) is inflammation of the glomeruli, which are structures in your kidneys that are made up of tiny blood vessels. This can cause your kidneys to stop working properly. The glomeruli are knots of vessels that help filter your blood and remove excess fluids. Sometimes called nephritis, GN is a serious illness that can lead to kidney failure. This can be life threatening and requires immediate treatment. GN can be both acute, sudden, chronic, or long-term. This condition used to be known as Bright’s disease. Read on to learn what causes GN, its diagnosis, and the treatment options. The causes of GN depend on whether it’s acute or chronic. Acute GN Acute GN can be a response to an infection such as Certain illnesses are known to trigger acute GN, including: • • • • amyloidosis, which occurs when abnormal proteins that can cause harm build up in your organs and tissues • • Heavy use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen (Advil) and naproxen (Aleve), may also be a risk factor. You shouldn’t exceed the dosage and length of treatment listed on the bottle without seeking advice from your primary care provider. Chronic GN The chronic form of GN can develop over several years with no or very few symptoms. This can cause irreversible damage to your kidneys and ultimately lead to complete Chronic GN doesn’t always have a clear cause. A genetic disease can sometimes cause chronic GN. Hereditary nephritis occurs in young men with poor vision and ...