Condition – Nephrotic Syndrome
Nephrotic syndrome is a group of symptoms that indicate damage to kidney. Nephrotic syndrome includes the following:
- Proteinuria—large amounts of protein in the urine
- Hyperlipidemia—higher than normal fat and cholesterol levels in the blood
- Edema, or swelling, usually in the legs, feet, or ankles and less often in the hands or face
- Hypoalbuminia—low levels of albumin in the blood
Signs and Symptoms
The symptoms of nephrotic syndrome are:
- Weight gain
- Fatigue
- Foamy urine
- Loss of appetite
- Protein in urea
- Swelling
Causes
This is a disease that only affects kidneys. Its causes include:
- Diabetic kidney disease
- Heart failure
- Blood clot in a kidney vein
- Minimal change disease
- Chronic inflammatory disease
Treatment
The treatment for nephrotic syndrome involves treating any underlying medical condition that may be causing this syndrome.
Medications may include blood pressure medications, water pills, cholesterol-reducing medications, and blood thinners.
Patients with nephrotic syndrome may be given pneumococcal vaccine which helps protection against a bacteria causing infection.