Glomerulonephritis is a group of disease that affects the part of the kidney that filters waste and fluids from the blood. Glomeruli are the tiny filters that remove the waste from the bloodstream which is excreted in the urine. The problem with the glomeruli can develop suddenly (acute) or over time (chronic). Any problem with the kidney can affect its function to remove the excess waste from the body and if the problem persists, it can eventually result in kidney failure.
Causes
The acute form of Glomerulonephritis can develop from infections such as strep throat or other conditions such as lupus or wegnener’s disease. The chronic form of this condition can also develop from the disease running in the family. Some of the conditions that can cause scarring of the glomeruli include high blood pressure, diabetic kidney disease and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. Although the exact cause of chronic Glomerulonephritis is not known, it can also develop as the result of changes in the immune system.
Symptoms
The acute form of Glomerulonephritis can develop suddenly or can result from an infection of the throat or the skin. Although it can resolve on its own, sometimes the treatment is necessary to prevent the dysfunction of the kidney. Some of the initial symptoms of the acute form include swelling of the face, brown urine or urinating less quantity than usual. The chronic form of Glomerulonephritis develops slowly over the years without any symptoms and can result in complete kidney failure. Some of the initial symptoms of the chronic form include the presence of blood in the urine, high blood pressure, frequent nighttime urination, foamy urine, swelling of the face and the limbs. The symptoms of kidney failure include itchy skin, lack of appetite, vomiting, nausea, fatigue and muscle cramps.
Diagnosis
The initial indication of Glomerulonephritis is the development of the symptoms associated with this condition. In order to evaluate the function of the kidney and to confirm the diagnosis, the tests can include urine analysis. This identifies the damage to the glomeruli and can show the presence of white blood cells which can be an indication of an infection. The blood tests can measure the level of waste products such as the blood urea nitrogen. The ultrasound examination can give detailed images of the kidney which can detect if any damage has occurred. A kidney biopsy involves the extraction of a small section of the affected kidney tissue that can detect the cause of inflammation.
Treatment
The goal of the treatment is to protect the kidneys from further damage. The treatment for Glomerulonephritis is based on the underlying cause, the severity of the condition and whether it is acute or chronic. In some cases, the condition can improve on its own without the need for treatment. In others, the treatment is focused on the underlying cause such as the high blood pressure or the infection which can resolve the condition. If the illness becomes worse, a special blood filtering process such as plasmapheresis may be required to remove the excess waste from the blood.
References
https://www.kidney.org/atoz/content/glomerul
http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Glomerulonephritis/Pages/Introduction.aspx#treatment
