Overview
Nephrotic (neff-rot-ick) syndrome is a condition in which your kidneys release an excessive amount of protein (proteinuria) in your urine (pee).
Nephrotic syndrome usually results from a problem with your kidneys’ filters (glomeruli). Glomeruli (glo-mare-yoo-lye) are tiny blood vessels in your kidneys. They remove wastes and excess fluids from your blood and send them to your bladder as urine. Common waste products include nitrogen waste (urea), muscle waste (creatinine) and acids.
In healthy kidneys, the glomeruli filter out the waste products. They allow your blood to retain the cells and proteins your body needs to function regularly.
Damaged glomeruli allow blood proteins to leak into your pee, including albumin. If you have nephrotic syndrome, your damaged glomeruli allow three or more grams (g) of protein to leak into your pee over 24 hours. Three grams is a little heavier than a U.S. penny. It’s 20 times the amount of protein that healthy glomeruli allow.
Is nephrotic syndrome life-threatening?
Nephrotic syndrome is a serious condition. Without treatment, nephrotic syndrome can affect your life expectancy due to secondary complications.
Who does nephrotic syndrome affect?
Nephrotic syndrome can affect anyone. However, it’s most common in people with diabetes-related kidney disease, people who have allergies and people who have a biological family history of kidney disease with nephrotic syndrome.
How common is nephrotic syndrome?
Nephrotic syndrome is relatively rare.
Nephrotic syndrome occurs in about 1 in every 50,000 children each year. Most children receive a nephrotic syndrome diagnosis between the ages of 2 and 5. Children assigned male at birth (AMAB) are about twice as likely to have nephrotic syndrome as children assigned female at birth (AFAB).
It occurs in 3 in every 100,000 adults each year.
How does nephrotic syndrome affect my body?
If you have nephrotic syndrome, losing different proteins may cause various problems.
Some proteins help prevent blood clots. When you lose those proteins in your pee, blood clots can form.
Immunoglobulins are proteins that help your immune system fight diseases and infections. When you lose immunoglobulins, you’re at a greater risk of general infections that affect different body systems, including:
- Pneumonia.
- Cellulitis.
- Peritonitis.
Symptoms
When to see a doctor
Complications
- High blood pressure.
- Diabetes.
- Heart failure.
- Some types of heart valve disease.
Prevention
- Control high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes.
- Don't smoke or use tobacco.
- Eat a diet that's low in salt and saturated fat.
- Exercise at least 30 minutes a day on most days of the week unless your health care team says not to.
- Get good sleep. Adults should aim for 7 to 9 hours daily.
- Maintain a healthy weight.
- Reduce and manage stress.
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