The Nephrotic Syndrome-symptoms, causes and treatments.
The nephrotic syndrome is caused mainly due to improper functioning of kidneys. It has the following three distinctive features :
Proteinuria, (Protein + Uria)
Hypoalbuminemia, (Hypo + Albumin + emia)
Edema.
is referred to as the Nephrotic Syndrome.
Let us understand what these characteristics actually mean.
Proteinuria: The unwanted presence of protein in urine is termed as proteinuria. It is taken to be “unwanted” because the protein which is to be ideally present in the blood, where it is used to bind the fluid together, escapes into urine.
Hypoalbuminemia: Out of all the types of proteins present in the blood, “albumin” plays a major part in binding the essential components of blood together. When Albumin levels in the blood fall drastically, it is termed as Hypoalbuminemia. Albumin is synthesized in the liver. Therefore, low levels of albumin can also mean a poorly functioning liver.
Edema: Edema means swelling. Due to the loss of protein from the blood, the binding in the blood fluid decreases and it leaks or travels into the cavities or other parts of the body. This leads to swelling in feet or around the eyes etc.
Therefore, associating these three characteristics together, we can conclude that the Nephrotic syndrome is a condition where the presence of protein in urine (Proteinuria) is found due to improper filtering of kidneys as a result of which the proteins present in the blood stream, specially albumin falls to alarming levels (Hypoalbuminemia) which leads to swelling in various body parts (Edema).
In simplest terms, the proteins from the blood travel into urine and the fluids travel into feet and eyes etc.
There is some amount of albumin which travels through the kidneys in people without the nephrotic syndrome. But beyond a certain level, albumin found in the urine during tests could suggest the nephrotic syndrome.
Symptoms:
- Apart from Edema, which occurs due the fluid travelling to the body parts like feet and eyes, people experience a weight gain due to the excess fluid present in the body in less appropriate parts.
- A high level of cholesterol might also be a result of this condition in some cases.
Causes:
The basic cause of a nephritic syndrome is damage to the blood vessels in the kidneys. The blood vessels in the kidney, called glomeruli perform the function of filtering the urine. When these blood vessels are damaged, the kidney functioning goes abnormal and results in the nephrotic syndrome.
The damage to the glomeruli is caused by different factors:
- A genetic defect, chronic diseases, blood clot or multiple scars in the blood vessels of the kidneys might be the reason of abnormal kidney function in children.
- Heart dysfunction: Certain kinds of heart failures often cast ill effect on the functioning of the kidneys and their blood vessels.
- There are certain medical conditions where the walls of the blood vessels thicken inside the kidneys. This disruprts the filtering function of the glomeruli and the kidneys.
- Diabetes also leads to nephropathy in later stages where the glomeruli is damaged.
- The amount of sodium/salt must be substantially cut down to keep the levels of blood pressure under control.
- Water can play a vital role in maintaining the proper functioning ability of the kidneys.But you may also want to keep a check on the amount of fluid intake as excessive fluid intake might cause worse edema.
- Another very effective remedy for purification and maintenance of kidneys and the blood vessels present in side is the use of barley. If barley is boiled in water, strained and used by the patient, shows clear signs of kidney vessels’ normal functioning.
Proteinuria, (Protein + Uria)
Hypoalbuminemia, (Hypo + Albumin + emia)
Edema.
is referred to as the Nephrotic Syndrome.
Let us understand what these characteristics actually mean.
Proteinuria: The unwanted presence of protein in urine is termed as proteinuria. It is taken to be “unwanted” because the protein which is to be ideally present in the blood, where it is used to bind the fluid together, escapes into urine.
Hypoalbuminemia: Out of all the types of proteins present in the blood, “albumin” plays a major part in binding the essential components of blood together. When Albumin levels in the blood fall drastically, it is termed as Hypoalbuminemia. Albumin is synthesized in the liver. Therefore, low levels of albumin can also mean a poorly functioning liver.
Edema: Edema means swelling. Due to the loss of protein from the blood, the binding in the blood fluid decreases and it leaks or travels into the cavities or other parts of the body. This leads to swelling in feet or around the eyes etc.
Therefore, associating these three characteristics together, we can conclude that the Nephrotic syndrome is a condition where the presence of protein in urine (Proteinuria) is found due to improper filtering of kidneys as a result of which the proteins present in the blood stream, specially albumin falls to alarming levels (Hypoalbuminemia) which leads to swelling in various body parts (Edema).
In simplest terms, the proteins from the blood travel into urine and the fluids travel into feet and eyes etc.
There is some amount of albumin which travels through the kidneys in people without the nephrotic syndrome. But beyond a certain level, albumin found in the urine during tests could suggest the nephrotic syndrome.
Symptoms:
- Apart from Edema, which occurs due the fluid travelling to the body parts like feet and eyes, people experience a weight gain due to the excess fluid present in the body in less appropriate parts.
- A high level of cholesterol might also be a result of this condition in some cases.
Causes:
The basic cause of a nephritic syndrome is damage to the blood vessels in the kidneys. The blood vessels in the kidney, called glomeruli perform the function of filtering the urine. When these blood vessels are damaged, the kidney functioning goes abnormal and results in the nephrotic syndrome.
The damage to the glomeruli is caused by different factors:
- A genetic defect, chronic diseases, blood clot or multiple scars in the blood vessels of the kidneys might be the reason of abnormal kidney function in children.
- Heart dysfunction: Certain kinds of heart failures often cast ill effect on the functioning of the kidneys and their blood vessels.
- There are certain medical conditions where the walls of the blood vessels thicken inside the kidneys. This disruprts the filtering function of the glomeruli and the kidneys.
- Diabetes also leads to nephropathy in later stages where the glomeruli is damaged.
Treatments:
- Among many treatments suggested, patients are prescribed steroids or corticosteroids to regulate proper functioning of the immune system. This helps in preventing the damage to the blood vessels in the kidneys.
- As discussed above, blood clots in the blood vessels of the kidneys may be a cause of nephrotic syndrome. Also heart failure might be a reason. To check this, it is important to maintain proper blood flow and for this purpose, blood thinners are prescribed to patients who show signs of heart dysfunction or blood clotting.
- Among many treatments suggested, patients are prescribed steroids or corticosteroids to regulate proper functioning of the immune system. This helps in preventing the damage to the blood vessels in the kidneys.
- As discussed above, blood clots in the blood vessels of the kidneys may be a cause of nephrotic syndrome. Also heart failure might be a reason. To check this, it is important to maintain proper blood flow and for this purpose, blood thinners are prescribed to patients who show signs of heart dysfunction or blood clotting.
- The amount of sodium/salt must be substantially cut down to keep the levels of blood pressure under control.
- Water can play a vital role in maintaining the proper functioning ability of the kidneys.But you may also want to keep a check on the amount of fluid intake as excessive fluid intake might cause worse edema.
- Another very effective remedy for purification and maintenance of kidneys and the blood vessels present in side is the use of barley. If barley is boiled in water, strained and used by the patient, shows clear signs of kidney vessels’ normal functioning.
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