How Long Will I Have To Wait For A Transplant If I Need One
The process of getting listed for a kidney transplant often begins after you your evaluation. The average wait time for a kidney from a deceased donor is three to five years. If you have a donor who is willing and able to give you a kidney, you can have your transplant as soon as both you and your donor are ready. Learn more about the kidney transplant waiting list and what you can do while you wait.
Key Points About Nephrotic Syndrome
- Nephrotic syndrome develops when there is damage to the filtering part of the kidneys . This results in protein spilling into the urine .
- Loss of the proteins from your blood allows fluid to leak out of the blood vessels into the nearby tissues causing swelling.
- The blood within your blood vessels will become thick with the loss of fluid into the tissue. This increases the risk for a blood clot.
- Your body will try to replace the lost proteins by increased production through the liver. This can result in high cholesterol.
- You will need to avoid excess sodium and fluid intake to prevent worsening fluid buildup in the tissue.
- Medicines are used to treat the underlying cause or help your body get rid of excess fluid.
- Dialysis may be needed if kidney failure develops which can happen in extreme cases.
Does Nephrotic Syndrome In Children Have Another Name
Health care professionals use different terms to refer to nephrotic syndrome in children, depending on
- how old the child is when symptoms begin
- congenital nephrotic syndromebirth to 3 months
- infantile nephrotic syndrome3 to 12 months
- childhood nephrotic syndrome12 months or older
You May Like: What Are The Advantages Of Having Two Kidneys
What Are The Treatment Options For Nephrotic Syndrome
The first line of treatment for nephrotic syndrome should be managing or treating the underline causes, which reduces symptoms, avoid complications, and postpone kidney failure because there is no definitive cure to nephrotic syndrome.
- Controlling water and protein intake
- Reducing high blood pressure levels with the use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers or diuretics prevents kidney damage. They reduce proteinuria, fluid retention, and swelling.
- Corticosteroids and other immunosuppressive drugs reduce inflammation of the kidneys.
- Intake of vitamin Dsupplements improves the functionality of the kidneys.
- Dietary modifications such as following a low-sodium diet and limiting the consumption of fats are recommended to reduce proteinuria and fluid retention.
- The use of blood thinners and other anticoagulants reduces the risk of blood clots.
Nephrotic syndrome is seen among all ages although the primary causes may be different. It is seen most frequently among children aged between 18 months and 8 years and is usually diagnosed at three to four years.
Children are most commonly diagnosed with nephrotic syndrome caused by minimal change disease, and adults are the most likely to be diagnosed with nephrotic syndrome due to diabetes.
How Is Nephrotic Syndrome Treated
Some of the kidney diseases that cause nephrotic syndrome are treatable with medicine. Some may get better on their own, but others get worse and may lead to kidney failure no matter what treatment is used. Unfortunately, many diseases that cause nephrotic syndrome have no treatment. Only your doctor can find out what specific disease is causing you to have it.
Don’t Miss: Where Is Kidney Pain Felt In The Back
What Problems Can It Cause
Most children with nephrotic syndrome have times when their symptoms are under control , followed by times when symptoms return .
In most cases, relapses become less frequent as they get older and often stop by their late teens.
Some of the main symptoms associated with nephrotic syndrome include:
- swelling the low level of protein in the blood reduces the flow of water from body tissues back into the blood vessels, leading to swelling . Swelling is usually first noticed around the eyes, then around the lower legs and the rest of the body.
- infections antibodies are a specialised group of proteins in the blood that help to fight infection. When these are lost, children are much more likely to get infections.
- urine changes occasionally, the high levels of protein being passed into the urine can cause it to become frothy. Some children with nephrotic syndrome may also pass less urine than usual during relapses.
- blood clots important proteins that help prevent the blood clotting can be passed out in the urine of children with nephrotic syndrome. This can increase their risk of potentially serious blood clots. During a relapse, the blood also becomes more concentrated, which can lead to clotting.
Nephrologists Located In Washington Dc & Capitol Heights Md
Nephrotic syndrome is a rare but potentially dangerous kidney disorder that leads to an excess of protein in your urine, also called proteinuria. Though theres no single cause of nephrotic syndrome, theres a wide range of conditions that might produce its symptoms, so it’s important to get checked out by the team at Metro Renal Associates in Washington, DC. They perform a series of tests to identify the cause of your nephrotic syndrome and provide an effective treatment plan. If you have a history of kidney problems, call or schedule an appointment online today.
Read Also: How To Keep Your Kidneys Healthy As You Age
Nephrotic Syndrome And Fsgs
Dr. Kirk Campbell, an expert on nephrotic syndrome, will explain how nephrotic syndrome and FSGS are related, current treatment options and the potential benefits of enrolling in clinical trials.
Join this webinar to learn more about:
- What nephrotic syndrome is
- The causes of nephrotic syndrome
- FSGS and available treatments
- The potential benefits of enrolling in clinical trials
Fluid Retention Is A Main Symptom
Fluid retention occurs when fluid leaks out of blood vessels into the body tissues. This causes swelling and puffiness of the affected tissues. The swelling is usually painless but the swollen tissues may feel tight. With children, the face is often affected first and the face becomes puffy. With adults, the ankles often become swollen at first . As fluid retention becomes worse, the calves and then the thighs may become swollen.
In severe cases, the fluid retention can become extensive. Fluid may accumulate in the lower back, the arms, in the tummy cavity , genitals, or in the chest between the lungs and the chest wall . Ascites can cause tummy pain and discomfort due to distension. Pleural effusions may cause chest pain and breathlessness.
The main reason why fluid leaks out from the blood vessels and into the body’s tissues with nephrotic syndrome is because of a low level of protein in the blood. As protein is lost from the body in the urine, the body makes more protein in the liver which passes into the bloodstream. However, in time the amount made by the liver cannot keep up with the amount lost by the leaky kidneys and so the blood level of protein goes down. If the blood level of protein is low then fluid tends to leak out of the blood vessels into the body tissues.
You May Like: Can Ultrasound Miss Kidney Stones
How Your Kidneys Work
Blood is cleaned in the kidneys as it passes through tiny filters called nephrons. Each kidney contains about one million nephrons. The kidneys remove waste products from the blood , while maintaining a balance of nutrients, salts and water.
Protein is not usually removed when the kidneys filter waste from the blood. However, when the kidneys are damaged, protein leaks through the damaged filters and is removed from the body in the urine, along with the waste products.
The two proteins that are most likely to be present in the urine when this happens are albumin and globulin .
Usually, a person loses less than 150 mg of protein in the urine in a 24-hour period. A person with nephrotic syndrome can lose more than 3.5 g of protein in the urine during a 24-hour period .
Why Are Clinical Trials With Children Important
Children respond to medicines and treatments differently than adults. The way to get the best treatments for children is through research designed specifically for them.
We have already made great strides in improving children’s health outcomes through clinical trialsand other types of clinical studies. Vaccines, treatments for children with cancer, and interventions for premature babies are just a few examples of how this targeted research can help. However, we still have many questions to answer and more children waiting to benefit.
The data gathered from trials and studies involving children help doctors and researchers
- find the best dose of medicines for children
- find treatments for conditions that only affect children
- treat conditions that behave differently in children than in adults
- understand the differences in children as they grow
Don’t Miss: Can You Feel Kidneys In Back
What Causes Nephrotic Syndrome
Nephrotic syndrome is not a specific kidney disease. It can occur in any kidney disease that damages the filtering units in a certain way that allows them to leak protein into the urine. Some of the diseases that cause nephrotic syndrome, such as nephritis, affect only the kidney. Other diseases that cause nephrotic syndrome, such as diabetes and lupus, affect other parts of the body as well.
Can Nephrotic Syndrome Be Prevented
Not all causes of nephrotic syndrome can be prevented. To prevent damage to the glomeruli:
- Make sure your blood pressure is well controlled.
- If you have diabetes, make sure your blood sugar is controlled.
- Keep up-to-date with vaccines that help to prevent common infections. This is especially true if you work or live around people who have hepatitis and other viral infections.
- Finish all antibiotics as prescribed. Do not stop your antibiotics because you may be feeling better. And, dont save them for a later date.
Read Also: How To Survive Without Kidneys
Deterrence And Patient Education
Patients should be educated on taking a low-salt diet as it helps manage their symptoms. There are no restrictions on physical activity for patients with nephrotic syndrome, and staying active is preferred over bed rest as it reduces the risk of blood clots. Adverse effects of steroids, such as slowing growth, can be detected by monitoring patients every three months in the outpatient clinic. Patients should be given information that bone health is essential, and due to steroids, their bone health can be affected therefore, supplemental calcium and vitamin D may be protective. Patients should get a yearly checkup to look for cataracts. In the community, patients with nephrotic syndrome should have monitoring in terms of their vaccination.
What If My Kidneys Fail
If your kidneys stop working because of nephrotic syndrome, you will need dialysis or a kidney transplant to live. If you are interested in getting a transplant, you must have a full health evaluation by a transplant team at a transplant center. The evaluation will help the transplant team decide if you are ready for the kidney transplant. If the transplant team decides you are ready, the next step will be for your transplant team to help you find a kidney match.
Recommended Reading: How To Treat Chronic Kidney Disease
Does The Disease Ever Go Away
Sometimes. Even though the nephrotic syndrome does not have a specific cure, the majority of children “outgrow” this disease in their late teens or in early adulthood. Some children will have only one attack of the syndrome. If your child does not have another attack for three years after the first one, chances are quite good that he or she will not get sick again.
Most children, however, often will have two or more attacks. The attacks are more frequent in the first two years after the syndrome strikes. After ten years, less than one child in five still suffers from attacks. Even if a child has numerous attacks, most will not develop permanent kidney damage. To prevent further attacks, the primary task of the caregiver is to control the accumulation of fluid in the child’s body with prednisone and diuretics.
It is important to remember that children with this disease have an excellent long-term outlook and can live long, healthy lives.
If you would like more information, please contact us.
Save this content:
Effects And Consequences Of Nephrotic Syndrome
Usually the first thing people affected by nephrotic syndrome notice is swelling of the ankles or frothy urine caused by the increased protein content. In some cases the whole of the legs may become swollen and this may extend up to the abdomen and can sometimes affect the face. The swelling is caused by water retention and so body weight increases. Other symptoms some people notice include tiredness and breathlessness.
Nephrotic syndrome increases the risk of blood clots and certain types of infections. It also results in an elevated cholesterol level. The kidney disease which cause nephrotic syndrome sometimes cause gradual scarring of the glomeruli so that they cant filter the blood properly and so the bodys waste products build up in the blood stream. Eventually these levels become dangerously high and then a transplant or an artificial treatment known as dialysis is necessary.
You May Like: Does Kidney Disease Cause Hypertension
How Is The Nephrotic Syndrome Treated
Nephrotic syndrome is almost always treatable, but the treatment depends on the cause. The treatment’s goal is to stop the loss of protein in the urine and increase the amount of urine passed from the body. Your doctor probably will prescribe a drug called prednisone for your child. Most children get better on this drug.
What Are The Complications Of Having Nephrotic Syndrome
Nephrotic syndrome can lead to serious complications, including2
- blood clots that can lead to thrombosis
- higher risk of infection caused by the loss of immunoglobulins, proteins in your blood that help fight viruses and bacteria
- brief or long-lasting kidney problems, including chronic kidney disease and kidney failure
You May Like: Is Watermelon Good For Kidneys
Nephrotic Syndrome In Adults
Nephrotic syndrome is a condition caused by particular kidney diseases. These diseases cause leakage of proteins, the most important of which is albumin, from the blood stream into the urine. This results in reduced levels of albumin in the blood stream and swelling of the ankles and sometimes other parts of the body known as oedema as well as the increased level of albumin in the urine. Nephrotic syndrome in adults is rare but it is an important type of kidney problem and there are many people with nephrotic syndrome seen in kidney outpatient clinics.
What Do Kidneys Do
The two kidneys lie to the sides of the upper tummy , behind the intestines and on either side of the spine. The kidneys are higher up in the body than people imagine – from behind they are actually partially protected by the lowest ribs. The kidneys move slightly with change in your body position and with movement of the diaphragm with breathing.
Each kidney is about the size of a large orange but bean-shaped.
‘Renal’ is a descriptive medical word, meaning ‘related to the kidney’. For example, a renal physician is a doctor who looks after people with kidney diseases .
Don’t Miss: What Causes Polycystic Kidney Disease
What Are The Complications Of Nephrotic Syndrome
When you have nephrotic syndrome, an important protein called albumin leaks into your urine instead of getting filtered by the kidneys as it should. Albumin helps your body get rid of extra fluid. When you do not have enough albumin in your blood, fluid can build up in your body, causing swelling in your legs, feet and ankles. You can also have other problems such as blood clots and infections.
With nephrotic syndrome, cholesterol also builds up in your blood. When you have too much cholesterol in your blood, clumps form inside your veins and arteries, which can cause a heart attack or a stroke.
Nephrotic syndrome can also cause other serious health problems such as:
Work With Your Doctor
- If your doctor prescribed medicines, take them as prescribed, even after you start to feel better. Call your doctor if you think you are having a problem with your medicine.
- See your doctor regularly to have your kidney function checked.
- Make sure your doctor knows about all the medicines, vitamins, or herbal supplements you take. This means anything you take with or without a prescription.
- Get a flu shot each year. And get any other shots your doctor suggests.
Read Also: How To Stop Kidney Stone Pain Immediately
What Is Nephrotic Syndrome
Nephrotic syndrome is a group of symptoms that indicate your kidneys are not working properly. These symptoms include
- too much protein in your urine, called proteinuria
- low levels of a protein called albumin in your blood, called hypoalbuminemia
- swelling in parts of your body, called edema
- high levels of cholesterol and other lipids in your blood, called hyperlipidemia
Your kidneys are made up of about a million filtering units called nephrons. Each nephron includes a filter, called the glomerulus, and a tubule. The glomerulus filters your blood, and the tubule returns needed substances to your blood and removes wastes and extra water, which become urine. Nephrotic syndrome usually happens when the glomeruli are inflamed, allowing too much protein to leak from your blood into your urine.
Nephrotic Syndrome And Other Glomerular Diseases
Diseases that injure the glomeruli, the tiny filtering units within the kidney where blood is cleaned, are called glomerular diseases.
Glomerular disease reduces the kidneys ability to maintain a balance of specific substances in the blood stream. The kidneys job is to filter the bad toxins in the blood from the good proteins and red blood cells. Glomerular disease causes the kidney to begin to retain the bad toxins and release the proteins and red blood cells from the body. Laboratory analysis of the urine from people who have glomerular disease often shows protein in the urine and sometimes blood in the urine . Glomerular diseases include many conditions with a variety of genetic and environmental causes. Most glomerular diseases have specific names but might also be referred to as either:
- Glomerulonephritis which describes the inflammation of the membrane tissue in the glomerulus of the kidney that serves as a filter, separating wastes and extra fluid from the blood.
- Glomerulosclerosis describes the scarring or permanent damage to the tiny blood vessels within the kidney.
References:
Recommended Reading: Can Kidney Problems Cause Lower Back Pain