Glomerulonephritis Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment

What Is Glomerulonephritis?

Glomerulonephritis, also known as glomerular nephritis, is a term used to refer to several kidney diseases (usually affecting both kidneys).

Many of the diseases are characterised by inflammation either of the glomeruli or small blood vessels in the kidneys, hence the name, but not all diseases necessarily have an inflammatory component.

If glomerulonephritis occurs on its own, it’s known as primary glomerulonephritis.

If another disease, such as lupus or diabetes, is the cause, it’s called secondary glomerulonephritis.

Causes of Glomerulonephritis:

Sometimes the cause of glomerulonephritis is unknown.

However, many conditions can lead to the development of glomerulonephritis.

Infections
Post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis.
Glomerulonephritis may develop a week or two after recovery from a strep throat infection or, rarely, a skin infection (impetigo).
To fight the infection, body produces extra antibodies that may eventually settle in the glomeruli, causing inflammation.
Bacterial endocarditis.
Bacteria occasionally can spread through the bloodstream and lodge in the heart, causing an infection of one or more of the heart valves.
Viral infections.
Viral infections, such as the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B and hepatitis C, may trigger glomerulonephritis.
Immune diseases
Goodpasture’s syndrome.
IgA nephropathy.
Vasculitis
This form of vasculitis affects small and medium blood vessels in many parts of the body, such as your heart, kidneys and intestines.
Wegener’s granulomatosis.This form of vasculitis affects small and medium blood vessels in your lungs, upper airways and kidneys.

The following conditions can cause scarring of the glomeruli:

High blood pressure.
Diabetic kidney disease.
Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis.

Symptoms of Glomerulonephritis:

The following symptoms are exhibited by the Glomerulonephritis:

Pink or cola-colored urine from red blood cells in your urine (hematuria)
Foamy urine due to excess protein (proteinuria)
High blood pressure (hypertension)
Fluid retention (edema) with swelling evident in your face, hands, feet and abdomen
Fatigue from anemia or kidney failure

Diagnosis of Glomerulonephritis:

Glomerulonephritis is diagnosed via the following:

Urine examination
Blood tests investigating the cause, including FBC, inflammatory markers and special tests including (ASLO, ANCA, Anti-GBM, Complement levels, Antinuclear antibodies
Imaging tests
Biopsy of the kidney