Dr. M.J. Bazos, MD
Patient Handout
GLOMERULONEPHRITIS
About Your
Diagnosis
Glomerulonephritis is the
term used to describe a group of diseases that cause inflammation of the part of
the kidney that filters blood. The inflammation in turn causes damage to the
kidney, and it cannot get rid of the waste products and extra fluid in the body.
Sometimes the kidneys may stop working completely. There are two forms of this
condition, acute and chronic. The acute form develops suddenly, whereas the
chronic form may develop silently over many years. You may get acute
glomerulonephritis after an infection in your throat or skin, although this is
not always the case. It may also be caused by some other illnesses, including
lupus, Goodpasture’s syndrome, Wegener’s granulomatosis,
Henoch-Schönlein purpura, and polyarteritis nodosa. On the other hand, in
many cases of chronic glomerulonephritis the cause is not known. In some cases
the disease runs in the family. This kind shows up in young men who also have
associated hearing loss. Some forms are caused by immune system changes. An
episode of acute glomerulonephritis may be followed by chronic disease years
later. The diagnosis is made by clues from your history. Urine showing protein
and blood cells is a further clue. Blood tests help your doctor determine the
cause of your glomerulonephritis in some cases, as well as how much your kidneys
have been damaged. Sometimes your doctor will need to do a kidney biopsy (take a
tiny piece of your kidney with a special needle) to help determine the best form
of treatment.
Living With Your
Diagnosis
With acute
glomerulonephritis, you will feel ill and go to the bathroom less often. Your
urine is red, smoky, or rusty because blood is in it. Your face, eyelids, and
hands may be swollen in the morning, and your ankles may be puffy in the
evening. You may be short of breath and cough because of extra fluid in your
lungs. Your blood pressure may be high. One or all of these symptoms may be
present. With chronic glomerulonephritis, you may have long periods with no
symptoms, but your kidneys are still being damaged. You may have protein and
blood in your urine as the only sign. As the disease worsens, you have symptoms
such as swelling of your face and ankles, loss of appetite, vomiting, and
feeling very tired. Your skin may become dry and itchy, and you may have muscle
cramps at
night.
Treatment
Occasionally
the glomerulonephritis may not need any treatment and go away by itself.
Sometimes you may need high doses of medicines that affect your immune system,
or you may need to have a special blood filtering process called plasmapheresis.
Antibiotics may be used for treatment of infection that may in turn have caused
the glomerulonephritis. Temporary treatment with an artificial kidney machine
may be required for removal of extra fluid and poisons that build up in the body
with glomerulonephritis. There is no specific treatment for the chronic form of
the disease. Your doctor may ask you to eat less protein, salt, and potassium,
and to take blood pressure pills and calcium
supplements.
The
DOs
• Good hygiene, “safe
sex,” and avoiding intravenous drugs are helpful in preventing infections
that could lead to this type of
illness.
• Do follow dietary advice
because it is very important in preventing complications from your
disease.
• Do keep to the fluid
restriction you have been advised because otherwise you could have fluid build
up in your lungs. This could be dangerous to your immediate
health.
• If you have the chronic
type of glomerulonephritis, it is very important to control your blood pressure;
it is the single most important thing that may slow down kidney damage.
Therefore do take your blood pressure medicine
regularly.
• Do exercise within your
capacity to do so.
The
DON’Ts
• Don’t stop
taking your medication before checking with your
doctor.
• Don’t take
over-the-counter medication unless you have checked it with your doctor. Some
medicines may not be safe with your kidney
condition.
• Don’t take any
herbal preparations that you may find at health food stores. Some of these
preparations have been known to cause kidney
disease.
• Don’t hesitate to
ask your doctor any questions
about your disease or any concerns about the
treatment that you may have.
When to
Call Your Doctor
• Always call
your doctor if you feel unwell. He may be able to assess whether you need to be
seen right away or whether a change in medication is necessary.