Nephrotic syndrome is a rare but serious kidney condition that causes a spillage of protein into the urine. The result is various symptoms that signal a problem within the kidneys that a specialist needs to address.
If you're living with chronic kidney disease or other kidney disorders, the specialists at Metro Renal Associates offer a range of diagnostic tools and treatments to help maintain the health of your urinary system.
Our team of three experienced nephrologists offers urine testing for blood in the urine and proteinuria, which can signal nephrotic syndrome or other severe kidney diseases.
Nephrotic syndrome is a problem where the filters (glomeruli) within the kidney are damaged, allowing protein to leak out into the urine. The glomeruli are small vessels that are responsible for filtering out excess fluids and wastes from urine.
People with nephrotic syndrome have damaged glomeruli that allow more than three grams of protein to seep into the urine over 24 hours. It's about 20 times more protein than healthy glomeruli allow to pass in a healthy person.
Nephrotic syndrome is a rare condition, but it does happen. Both children and adults are at risk if they have certain conditions that include:
Just because you have one of the above conditions doesn't automatically mean you'll develop nephrotic syndrome. However, the risk increases for the condition without proper kidney care and a focus on your health.
Knowing the signs and symptoms of nephrotic syndrome could save your life. The symptoms directly correlate with damaged glomeruli, which allows the protein to leak into the urine.
Excess protein in the urine leads to various signs and symptoms of nephrotic syndrome, which include the following:
The symptoms may develop suddenly or over time. You need to seek treatment as soon as possible to avoid complications from nephrotic syndrome. The longer the symptoms persist, the more likely you are to have hypertension and acute kidney injury.
If we suspect nephrotic syndrome, the first step is a urinalysis. We provide you with a cup to collect a urine sample, which we will test for excess protein. Proteinuria is one of the key signs of nephrotic syndrome.
We also test for other substances in the urine, such as albumin levels and creatinine. You may need to provide several urine samples at different times throughout the day to obtain an accurate reading.
Blood tests are also crucial in diagnosing nephrotic syndrome. We test for albumin levels and triglyceride levels to diagnose nephrotic syndrome.
The goal of treatment is to address the underlying condition causing damage to the glomeruli. With treatment, most people go into remission from nephrotic syndrome.
To learn more about nephrotic syndrome and our treatments, call one of our conveniently located offices in Washington, D.C., and Capitol Heights, Maryland. You can also request a consultation on the website.
