Why does glomerulonephritis appear and how is it treated

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

If the kidneys stop working, hemodialysis may be needed.

What is Glomerulonephritis

Glomerulonephritis Glomerulonephritis is a disease in which the renal glomeruli become inflamed. This is the name of the plexus of thin vessels in which blood is filtered and urine is formed. If they are damaged, fluid is retained in the body. And this becomes the cause of dangerous complications.

What can cause glomerulonephritis

The disease develops for various reasons Glomerulonephritis.

Past infections

Glomerulonephritis may appear with Glomerulonephritis a week or two after streptococcal sore throat, less commonly after a bacterial skin infection (impetigo). This is associated with the production of antibodies that damage the renal glomeruli.

Sometimes glomerulonephritis occurs after bacterial endocarditis - inflammation of the heart valves. But the mechanism of kidney damage has not yet been studied.

Also, inflammation of the glomeruli is observed in people infected with HIV, hepatitis B or C.

Immune diseases

Often Glomerulonephritis leads to glomerulonephritis immune pathologies:

• Systemic lupus erythematosus Patient education: Systemic lupus erythematosus (Beyond the Basics). The body makes antibodies to and damages many healthy tissues.
• Goodpasture Syndrome. A rare condition that affects the lungs.
• IgA ‑ nephropathy. A pathology in which immunoglobulins of group A are deposited in the glomeruli for many years.

Vasculitis

This is a group of diseases in which blood vessels become inflamed. For example, glomerulonephritis can develop with polyarteritis or granulomatosis Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (GPA, formerly called Wegener's) Wegener's.

High blood pressure

With hypertension, small vessels of the kidneys are damaged, so glomerulonephritis can also occur over time.

Diabetes

If a person has an elevated blood sugar level with Glomerulonephritis for many years, the renal glomeruli are also affected.

Heredity

Rarely, chronic glomerulonephritis is inherited. But then in a person not only the renal glomeruli are affected, but also other Glomerulonephritis systems, such as hearing and vision.

What are the symptoms of glomerulonephritis

If it is acute glomerulonephritis, symptoms will appear quickly. And with a chronic person, a person may not know anything for a long time. But later, the same deviations will become noticeable as in acute pathology. Usually it is Glomerulonephritis:

• Pink or red urine. The color changes due to the appearance of red blood cells.
• Foam in the urine. It is harvested because of the dissolved protein.
• High blood pressure.
• Swelling on the face, arms, legs, abdomen. Arise due to fluid retention in the body.

Why glomerulonephritis is dangerous

Many people develop complications. It could be Glomerulonephritis:

• Arterial hypertension.
• Acute or chronic renal failure.
• Nephrotic syndrome. So much protein is lost in the urine that it becomes less than normal in the blood. At the same time, the concentration of cholesterol increases and severe edema appears.
• Glomerulonephritis thrombosis of the vessels.

What to do if you suspect glomerulonephritis

First you need to see a therapist. He will prescribe a urine, blood, ultrasound of the kidneys, and in some cases even a biopsy of the kidneys. If the diagnosis is confirmed, the doctor will prescribe treatment. These can be drugs of the following groups of Glomerulonephritis:

• Immunosuppressants Medicines help suppress immune responses against your own tissues.
• Steroid hormones. They are needed to reduce edema and suppress the immune system.
• Antiviral agents. Used when glomerulonephritis is associated with HIV infection or various types of hepatitis.
• Antihypertensive drugs. They are needed in cases where hypertension has already developed or, on the contrary, has become the cause of glomerulonephritis.
• Statins. These are pills that help lower cholesterol levels.

In addition, your doctor will advise you to change your diet. With glomerulonephritis, you need to reduce the intake of salty and protein foods, as well as foods rich in potassium. Maintain a normal body weight and control blood sugar levels in diabetes.

For all patients with glomerulonephritis, doctors advise Glomerulonephritis to quit smoking.

If conservative treatment does not help and the condition gradually worsens, the person will be sent for dialysis, and in extreme cases they will undergo a kidney transplant.

How not to get sick with glomerulonephritis

You can reduce the risk of developing glomerulonephritis by following the recommendations of the Glomerulonephritis doctors:

• Treat streptococcal infections such as sore throat and impetigo in time.
• Follow the rules of safe sex so as not to get infected with HIV and hepatitis B and C.
• If you have hypertension, take the blood pressure medication prescribed by your therapist.
• Treat diabetes and try to maintain normal blood glucose levels.