About the disease
Glomerulonephritis is an inflammation of the glomeruli, which are the kidney’s filters. The glomeruli are responsible for removing the excess fluid and waste from the blood stream, which is then passed out of the body in the urine. There are two types of glomerulonephritis: acute and chronic. Acute glomerulonephritis occurs suddenly and causes inflammation, while chronic glomerulonephritis develops gradually and may be asymptomatic for a certain period of time. It is most commonly caused by such diseases as lupus and diabetes. Glomerulonephritis can also be caused by viral infections, such as HIV, hepatitis B and C. People with heart problems are more likely to develop glomerulonephritis, which is why they need to undergo urinalysis on a regular basis.
If not treated, glomerulonephritis can result in such complications as acute or chronic kidney disease and high blood pressure. This can be caused by excessive waste in the bloodstream, which is not being filtered properly by the glomeruli and is now contaminating the blood.
According to the American website MedScape, the peak of incidence of glomerulonephritis was in the 1990s and now it has decreased by 40-50%. During the same period, nephritis and hepatitis increased almost by 30%. Glomerulonephritis usually develops in children 5-15 years of age.
Symptoms
- Frequent urination
- Pink or dark urine
- High blood pressure
- Pain in the kidneys
- Swelling in the face or feet
- Fatigue
Diagnosis
- Urinalysis can help a doctor find out if there are red blood cell casts in a patient’s blood, which indicates problems with the glomeruli.
- A Kidney X-Ray can also indicate an inflammatory response.
- Ultrasound checks the kidneys on a deeper level.
- Blood tests can provide information about the amount of waste (such as creatinine or nitrogen) in the bloodstream. A high amount of waste can also indicate glomerulonephritis.
Treatment
- This disease usually requires conservative treatment in order to avoid kidney failure or other complications. It includes infection eradication, if glomerulonephritis was caused by hepatitis or other infections and consists of a course of antibiotics.
- Diuretics and beta-blockers are usually prescribed in order to control high blood pressure, which can be caused by an excessive amount of waste in the bloodstream.
- Immune-suppressing drugs are recommended if a patient has acute inflammation.
- Dialysis is used if glomerulonephritis is caused by excess fluid in the kidneys. In this case, blood pressure is regulated by the removal of the excess fluid.
- In progressive stages, glomerulonephritis can cause kidney failure, in which case the patient may need a kidney transplant.
Authors: Dr. Vadim Zhiliuk, Dr. Sergey Pashchenko
