GLOMERULONEPHRITIS

Managing Acute And Chronic Nephrotic Syndrome

What is Glomerulonephritis?

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

Our kidney specialists at Richmond Nephrology Associates will work with you to treat your glomerulonephritis.

Glomerulonephritis
Glomerulonephritis

Acute Vs. Chronic Glomerulonephritis

There are two types of glomerulonephritis—acute and chronic. Whichever type you have, our kidney specialists at Richmond Nephrology Associates will work with you to manage it.

Acute Glomerulonephritis

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

  • Shortness of breath and cough because of extra fluid in your lungs

  • High blood pressure

Causes of acute glomerulonephritis:

  • Infections such as strep throat

  • Lupus

  • Goodpasture’s syndrome

  • Wegener’s disease

  • Polyarteritis nodosa

Early diagnosis and prompt treatment are important to prevent kidney failure. Treatment for acute glomerulonephritis:

  • May go away by itself

  • Medication 

  • Temporary treatment with an artificial kidney machine to remove extra fluid and control high blood pressure and kidney failure. 

  • If your 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.

Chronic Glomerulonephritis

The chronic form may develop silently, without symptoms, over several years. It often leads to complete kidney failure. 

  • Blood or protein in the urine

  • High blood pressure

  • Swelling of your ankles or face

  • Frequent nighttime urination

  • Very bubbly or foamy urine

  • Causes chronic glomerulonephritis

  • Genetics – usually in young men who may also have hearing loss and vision loss

  • Changes in the immune system. 

  • 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.

There is no specific treatment for the chronic form of the illness. Your 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