Autoimmune Diseases - Glomerulonephritis

Glomerulonephritis or nephritis is a condition in which the glomeruli, made of tiny blood vessels, becomes inflamed and waste cannot be filtered by the kidneys properly.

There are two types of Glomerulonephritis, acute or chronic:

Acute Glomerulonephritis is an infection caused by issues with the immune system. Usually the body is over-reacting to an infection such as strep throat, lupus or amyloidosis or anti-inflammatory drugs. Acute Glomerulonephritis may not need treatment and can go away on its own, but treatment is needed when it doesn’t as it can cause long-term damage to the kidneys. Symptoms of acute Glomerulonephritis include:

  • Puffiness in the face
  • Less frequent urination
  • Blood in the urine
  • High blood pressure
  • Coughing cause by extra fluid in the lungs

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Chronic Glomerulonephritis on the other hand develops over a period of a years and can cause irreversible damage to the kidneys and lead to kidney failure. The cause of chronic Glomerulonephritis is believed to be genetic in nature and linked to some autoimmune diseases and a history of cancer. Symptoms of chronic Glomerulonephritis include:

  • High blood pressure
  • Excessive protein present in the urine causing foamy urine
  • Fluid retention causing swelling in the ankles and feet
  • Abdominal pain
  • Frequent nosebleeds

Because glomerulonephritis affects the functioning of the kidneys, complications that result include high blood pressure, Nephrotic syndrome, chronic kidney disease and in severe cases may lead to kidney failure.

How is it diagnosed?

Using blood tests, urine tests and immunology tests, Dr Machailo will be able to accurate diagnose your condition and fine out how severe the damage of your kidneys is. To assess the damage he may need to do a CT scan, x-ray, kidney ultrasound or biopsy of the kidney tissue.

Treatment options

Once the cause of Glomerulonephritis is found, treatment may be aimed at controlling blood pressure, reducing swelling and fluid retention or reducing the response of your immune system to prevent chronic kidney disease and the possibility of kidney failure.

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