Glomerulonephritis
Glomerulonephritis refers to inflammatory kidney problems of the tiny capillary in the kidneys, called glomeruli. The glomeruli remove excess fluids and wastes from the bloodstream so that they exit the body in the form of urine. The condition can develop suddenly (acutely) or gradually (chronically). This condition impacts 10% of the population around the world.
Associated Anatomy
Glomerulus (filtering part of the kidneys)
Causes
The reason Glomerulonephritis appears is often unknown. However, causes might include:
- Genetics
- Anti-GBM condition (previously Goodpasture syndrome), which is a severe autoimmune disease.
- Endocarditis - an infection due to inflammation of the heart chambers and valves.
- Various other viral infections, such as strep throat, HIV, or liver diseases like Hepatitis C.
- Issues with the immune system assaulting healthy body parts, such as lupus.
- Unusual illnesses that irritate blood vessels like granulomatosis with polyangiitis (previously Wegener's disease), microscopic polyangiitis, or eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (formerly Churg-Strauss Syndrome).
Signs Or Symptoms
Glomerulonephritis may appear suddenly, but some of the symptoms that may occur are:
- Puffiness of the face on waking up
- Reduced urination
- Inability to complete family
- Bone pains/aches
- Often urinating throughout the evening
- Shortness of breath due to fluid-filled lungs
- High blood pressure
- Blood or protein in the urine
- Swollen ankle joints or face due to water retention
- Bubbles or foam in the urine due to excess protein in the urine
Possible Treatment
Glomerulonephritis Treatment depends on the problem's root cause and signs. In mild cases, treatment is not necessary and disease remits with timely case.
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Immunosuppressants
Severe Glomerulonephritis, brought on by problems with the immune system, is treated with immunosuppressants. These medications blunts the injury caused by misguided immune system.
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Steroids
Steroids are used to minimize swelling and also suppress your immune system. In Glomerulonephritis, your doctor may recommend you to take steroids for a period of time.
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Various other medications
If your problem is believed to be linked to a viral infection, it may be treated with an antiviral drug.
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Treating hypertension
Glomerulonephritis usually brings about hypertension, which can cause more kidney damage and various other wellness problems. You may need to take medicines that decrease blood pressure and help reduce the quantity of protein that leaks into your urine.
In difficult situations that can not be improved with various other treatments, you might need:
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Kidney dialysis
It is a treatment that takes control of the kidney's work components and gets rid of waste products from your body.
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Kidney transplant
It is a procedure where a healthy kidney from a contributor is operatively implanted to replace one’s own damaged kidneys.
Risk Factor
Some factors that may elevate the glomerulonephritis risk are:
- Having a family history of kidney illness
- Past or present kidney troubles
- Having health problems such as hypertension, or high blood sugar levels
- Direct exposure to toxic substances, drugs and gym products.
Stages
It may have three stages, which include:
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The latent stage:
It occurs when Glomerulonephritis results from a post-infectious disease like a streptococcal infection. From the onset of the infection until it develops into Glomerulonephritis, it lasts seven to twenty-one days.
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The acute stage:
The acute stage starts after the development of Glomerulonephritis. At this stage, it may cause severe harm to your kidneys unless treated appropriately in time.
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The recovery stage
In this stage, the treatment and dietary precautions helps in patient’s recovery.
Typical Test
To see if you have Glomerulonephritis, your nephrologist will begin by examining your blood or urine to see if your kidneys are functioning well or not. After that, your doctor might ask you to have more tests.
Some Imaging tests for your kidneys are:
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X-ray
X-rays are a type of high-energy electromagnetic radiation that penetrates deep into the body.
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Ultrasound
A medical procedure in which high-frequency sound waves are used to see inside the body. It is non-invasive, harmless and early available test which should be done as soon as possible.
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CT scan
CT scans are medical imaging techniques used to obtain detailed images of the inside of a person's body unmount contrast dyes.
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Kidney biopsy
It is a medical procedure in which a tiny piece of your kidney is taken out under ultrasound guidance and local anaesthesia. It is most diagnostic test and should be done as the earliest, if indicated to prevent irreversible injury to kidneys.
Primary Prevention
- Eat healthy, balanced and unadulterated food.
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- Take care of high BP with a low salt diet, regular medications, physical activity and regular follow-up.
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- Additionally, avoid using needles for controlled substances and tattoos.
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- See a healthcare provider whenever you have an infection like sore throat, blood in urine, foam, or bubbles in urine.
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Secondary Prevention
- Prevent infections by practising good health with a healthy diet.
- Have safe sex practice by using protection to prevent infections.
- Control your blood sugar level to prevent diabetic nephropathy.
- Intravenous drug abuse should be avoided to prevent infections that can cause Glomerulonephritis, such as HIV and liver disease.
Types of Glomerulonephritis
There are two types of Glomerulonephritis, which are:
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Acute Glomerulonephritis:
Acute glomerulonephritis is defined as swelling and subsequent damage of the glomeruli leading to hematuria (presence of blood in urine), proteinuria (enhanced levels of protein in urine), and azotemia (increased level of Blood Urea Nitrogen or Serum Creatinine); it may be triggered by primary kidney illness or systemic problems.
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Chronic Glomerulonephritis
It is a group of kidney diseases defined by long-term damage and scarring of the glomeruli (tiny functioning factors in the kidney that filter blood and produce urine). This form of kidney illness is typically created gradually (over the years) and may not have signs and symptoms at the outset.
Alternate Name
Nephritis and nephrotic syndrome, RPGN, CKD.
Differential Diagnosis
Usual differential medical diagnoses of Glomerulonephritis consist of minimal change nephropathy, FSGS, hypertensive nephropathy, diabetic nephropathy, IgA nephropathy, fibrillary glomerulopathies (illnesses may cause amyloidosis), lupus nephritis, and multiple myeloma, cardio-renal syndrome, pulmonary-renal and hepato-renal syndromes, where two way organs are covered.
Epidemiology
Glomerulonephritis is common, with an approximated worldwide incidence of 0.5-2.5 per 100,000 clients each year, depending on the particular type. However, the threat of development of end-stage renal condition (ESRD) is high in chronic Glomerulonephritis.
Expected Prognosis
In acute Glomerulonephritis, the lasting prognosis usually is good. Greater than 98% of people are asymptomatic after five years, with chronic kidney failure reported 1-3% of the moment. Within a week or so of starting, many patients with acute Glomerulonephritis begin to experience a reduction in fluid retention and hypertension.
Natural Progression
Suppose Glomerulonephritis is left without treatment or remains undiagnosed or neglected. It can lead to chronic renal failure, end-stage kidney disease, hypertension, congestive heart failure, lung oedema. It may eventually lead to stage of regular dialysis and a kidney transplant.
Possible Complication
Possible problems of Glomerulonephritis include:
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Hypertension
Damage to the glomeruli from swelling or scarring can enhance blood pressure.
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Acute kidney injury
Severe kidney failure is the sudden, rapid reduction in kidney function, usually connected with a transmittable root cause of Glomerulonephritis. The accumulation of waste and liquids can be lethal if not dealt with immediately with a synthetic filtering system device (dialysis). The kidneys frequently resume standard features after recuperation.
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Chronic kidney disease
Persistent inflammation causes long-term damage and decreases the function of the kidneys. Chronic kidney conditions may advance to end-stage kidney illness, which requires dialysis or a kidney transplant.
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Nephrotic disorder
It is a condition in which too much blood protein is excreted in urine as waste, and hence there is insufficient protein amount in the bloodstream. A decrease in blood proteins leads to high cholesterol, hypertension, and swelling (oedema) of the face, hands, feet, and abdomen. In rare instances, nephrotic syndrome may create an embolism in a kidney blood vessel.
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