Severe swelling and pallor speak of nephrotic syndrome

Nephrotic syndrome, which develops against the background of a renal pathology or another cause that caused a kidney disease, has characteristic external signs that will immediately help the doctor to suggest a diagnosis and prescribe additional examinations. A patient with nephrotic syndrome has pale to pearlescent skin, dry and cold to the touch, and often looks very edematous due to the accumulation of fluid in the subcutaneous tissue. The diagnosis is made according to a characteristic tetrad of laboratory signs, and the effectiveness of treatment depends on the timeliness and success of the treatment of the underlying disease that caused the development of nephrotic syndrome.

What happens in the body with nephrotic syndrome

Approximately every fifth urological disease is complicated by the development of nephrotic syndrome, most often it affects patients under the age of 40 years. The syndrome may accompany renal diseases – such as pyelonephritis, amyloidosis or kidney tumors, but may develop in addition to renal complications that occur with other diseases and pathological conditions. So, for example, nephrotic syndrome can be complicated by:

• collagenoses and some rheumatic lesions (scleroderma, rheumatoid arthritis, etc.;
• purulent inflammatory processes in the body (lung abscess, etc.);
• diseases of the lymphatic system (lymphogranulomatosis, etc.);
• certain infectious diseases (tuberculosis, syphilis, etc.);
• Severe allergies.

Nephrotic syndrome can develop in response to drug overdose or heavy metal poisoning, even bee stings. It happens that a clear cause of development cannot be identified, and then experts are ready to talk about idiopathic nephrotic syndrome.

Discussing  the essence of the phenomena occurring in the body with nephrotic syndrome, scientists are inclined to an immunological explanation, since patients usually give a good response to & nbsp; immunosuppressive treatment. Nephrotic syndrome is caused by the formation of immune complexes that settle in the tissues of the kidneys, disrupt microcirculation in the glomerular capillaries and provoke their blockage, causing inflammation. At the same time, the impaired permeability of the glomerular filter causes the release of a large amount of protein into the blood, and in response to its appearance, an intensive production of cholesterol, phospholipids and triglycerides begins. Thus, an absolutely characteristic tetrad of signs of nephrotic syndrome is the presence in laboratory tests of proteinuria and hyperlipidemia in combination with & nbsp;

How to recognize nephrotic syndrome in time

Despite the variety of causes that can cause nephrotic syndrome, the symptoms are always the same. Among the external symptoms, in addition to a specific mother-of-pearl skin tone, one should keep in mind an enlarged abdomen, a furred tongue, dry, cold skin, combined with exfoliating nails and split ends. Patients usually complain of dry mouth and intense thirst, weakness and headaches, diarrhea and vomiting, heaviness in the lower back. Puffiness of the body can be very massive – before the formation of ascites hydrothorax and hydropericardium.

In addition to the characteristic signs from laboratory tests, you need to pay attention to daily diuresis of less than one liter, convulsions, myalgia, shortness of breath even at rest, stiffness in movements, which may be due to edema.

Possible complications of nephrotic syndrome can be phlebothrombosis in peripheral plots, nephrotic crisis and cerebral edema, so treatment should be started as early as possible.

Treatment of nephrotic syndrome and disease prognosis

Therapy of nephrotic syndrome is inextricably linked with the treatment of the underlying disease, which caused its development. Regardless of this reason, the patient is prescribed a salt-free diet and bed rest, fluid intake is limited, and albumin is infused by infusion. Symptomatically prescribed antihistamines, cardiac drugs, potassium preparations. If the cause of the development of nephrotic syndrome is unclear, corticosteroids are prescribed, and in the hormone-resistant form – cytostatics.

The prognosis of the disease is favorable, and with successful treatment of the underlying disease, complete recovery of renal functions can be achieved. But if the cause of nephrotic syndrome remains unresolved, the disease may recur, gradually turning into chronic renal failure.