Glomerulonephritis
Glomerulonephritis is damage to the tiny filters inside your kidneys (the glomeruli). It's often caused by your immune system attacking healthy body tissue.
Glomerulonephritis doesn't usually cause any noticeable symptoms. It's more likely to bediagnosedwhen blood or urine tests are carried out for another reason.
Although mild cases of glomerulonephritiscan be treated effectively, for some people the condition can lead to long-term kidney problems.
This topic covers:
When to get medical advice
Causes
Treatment
Complications
In severe cases of glomerulonephritis, you maysee blood in your urine . However, thisis usually noticed when a urine sample is tested.
Your urine may be frothy if it contains a large amount of protein.
If a lot of protein leaks into your urine, swelling of the legs or other parts of the body (oedema) can also develop. This is known as nephrotic syndrome .
Depending on your type of glomerulonephritis, other parts of your body can be affected andcause symptoms such as:
Many people with glomerulonephritis also have high blood pressure .
See your GP if you notice blood in your urine . This doesn't always mean you have glomerulonephritis, but the cause should be investigated.
If your GP suspects glomerulonephritis, they'll usually arrange:
If glomerulonephritis is confirmed, further blood tests may be needed to help determine the cause.
If your kidney problem needs to be investigated further, it may be recommended thatyou have:
Glomerulonephritis is often caused by a problem with your immune system.It's not clear exactly why this happens, although sometimes it's part of a condition such assystemic lupus erythematosus(SLE) or vasculitis .
In some cases, the immune system abnormalities are triggered by an infection, such as:
In most cases, glomerulonephritis doesn'trun infamilies.
If you're diagnosed with an inheritedtype of glomerulonephritis, your doctor can advise you about the chances of someone else in your family being affected.
They may recommend screening, which can identify people who may be at increased risk of developing the condition.
Treatment for glomerulonephritis depends on the cause and severity of your condition. Mild cases may not need any treatment.
Treatment can be as simple as making changes to your diet, such as eating less salt to reduce the strain on your kidneys.
Medication to lower blood pressure, such asangiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors,is commonly prescribed because they help protect the kidneys.
If the condition is caused by a problem with your immune system, medication called immunosuppressants may be used.
Read about treating glomerulonephritis .
Although treatment for glomerulonephritisis effective in many cases, further problems can sometimes develop.
These include:
If you're diagnosed with glomerulonephritis, your doctor may prescribe medication to help lower your blood pressure, lower your cholesterol or protect against blood clots.
Read about glomerulonephritis, which is damage to the tiny filters inside your kidneys (the glomeruli).
Read about treating glomerulonephritis. Treatment for glomerulonephritis largely depends on the cause of the condition and the symptoms.