Glomerulonephritis

Glomeruli are the filters of kidney. Excess fluid and waste from the blood is removed by glomeruli disposed from the body as urine. The inflammation of these tiny filters in the kidneys (glomeruli) is called as Glomerulonephritis. Due to this the kidneys slowly lose their ability to remove wastes and excess fluid from the blood to make urine.

Glomerulonephritis can occur on its own or as part of another disease like lupus or diabetes. Sometimes severe or prolonged inflammation associated with glomerulonephritis can damage the kidneys. Treatment depends on the kind of glomerulonephritis that diagnosed.

What are the different types of glomerulonephritis?

There are two types of glomerulonephritis

Acute Glomerulonephritis: The acute form develops all of a sudden like may get it after an infection in your throat or on your skin. Occasionally, it can be cured on its own. If the right treatment is not started quickly, the kidneys may stop working. The early symptoms of the acute disease are:

1. Puffiness of your face in the morning
2. Blood in your urine (or brown urine)
3. Urinating less than usual
4. Short of breath and cough because of extra fluid in your lungs
5. High blood pressure

If you have one or all of these symptoms, be sure to see your doctor right away.

Chronic Glomerulonephritis: The chronic form may develop silently (without symptoms) over several years. It often leads to complete kidney failure. Early signs and symptoms of the chronic form may include

1. Blood or protein in the urine (hematuria, proteinuria)
2. High blood pressure
3. Swelling of your ankles or face (edema)
4. Frequent night-time urination
5. Very bubbly or foamy urine

What causes glomerulonephritis?

Glomerulonephritis can be caused by several of factors like:

1. Toxins or medicines
2. Viral infections, such as HIV, hepatitis B and C viruses
3. IgA nephropathy
4. Lupus-related kidney inflammation
5. Bacterial infections that commonly cause throat and skin infections, such as strep or staph bacteria

How is glomerulonephritis diagnosed?

Following are the tests recommended by kidney specialist to diagnose the glomerulonephritis

1. Urinalysis: This test checks urine for red and white blood cells, infection, or too much protein.
2. Blood tests: This test helps to measure the levels of waste products to find out how well the kidneys are filtering.
3. Ultrasound of the kidney: This test uses high-frequency sound waves and a computer to make images of blood vessels, tissues, and organs. It’s done to see whether the shape or size of the kidney is abnormal.
4. Kidney biopsy: In this test, tissue samples are removed from the kidney and checked under a microscope.

What is the treatment for glomerulonephritis?

The Glomerulonephritis treatments mainly focus on slowing the progression of the disease and preventing complications. Treatment may include:

1. Blood pressure medicines such as ACE (angiotensin-converting enzymes) inhibitors that protect blood flow into the kidneys.
2. Corticosteroids may be used to decrease inflammation that leads to scar tissue.
3. Diuretics (water pills) may be used to remove excess fluid in the body through more urine production.
4. Diet changes including eating less protein, sodium, and potassium.
5. Dialysis to remove wastes and fluid from the blood after the kidneys has stopped working.
6. Kidney transplant that replaces the diseased kidney with a healthy kidney from a donor.

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