Glomerulonephritis
Glomerulonephritis is a health complication that results in the inflammation of the glomerular capillaries. These are tiny filters founded in the kidney. The disease occurs either on its own or as a symptom to another health complication such as diabetes ( Ponticelli & Glassock, 2019) . Often, acute inflammation does damage the kidney. The diagram below illustrates the pathophysiology of Glomerulonephritis.
While the disease may be found in the family, it can also result from various causes. However, at times, the cause remains unknown. The main conditions and processes associated with the disease include viral infection, which may consist of viruses such as hepatitis B and C or the human immunodeficiency virus ( Ponticelli & Glassock, 2019) . Bacteria endocardia can also result in the condition in which the bacteria get lodged in one of the body organs such as the heart causing an infection. One is most at risk if they have a heart defect, for example, an artificial or damaged heart valve. At the same time, the condition may also develop after a patient recovers from a skin or throat infection ( Ponticelli & Glassock, 2019) . As the body tries to defend itself by fighting the infection, it produces excess antibodies that may cluster around the glomeruli, thus resulting in an infection. Other illnesses that may cause the disease include polyarteritis nodosa, Wegener disease, Goodpasture syndrome, and lupus.
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Nephrotic Syndrome vs. Nephritic Syndrome
| Nephrotic Syndrom | Nephritic Syndrome |
| Entails protein loss | Entails the loss of blood |
| Large amount of protein | Small amount of protein |
| Primary causes include: Membranous glomerulonephritis, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, and a small change in glomerulonephritis |
Infections Immune system disorder Blood cells inflammation Tan, Xu, Lan, Wu, Zhou & Yang, 2015) |
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Primary signs and symptoms include: Weight gain due to a lot of fluids in the body Foamy Urine Fatigue Edema (serious swelling feet and ankles) Edema is caused by the movement of fluid into the nearby tissues. These fluids originate from the intravascular regions ( Niaudet & Boyer, 2016) |
Primary signs include: Moderate or mild edema Oliguria Azotemia Hematuria Casts of RBC in the urine Proteinuria And Sterile pyuria |
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It is associated with Diabetic kidney infection/disease Membranous nephropathy Blood clot Amyloidosis Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis Minimal change illness ( Niaudet & Boyer, 2016) |
Associated with IgA nephropathy Post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis Henoch-Schonlein purpura Membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis Rapid Progressive glomerulonephritis (Tan et al., 2015) |
| Treatment entails treating the precise cause of the condition that include dietary changes and medication |
Treatment requires water restriction and low sodium intake. Medical therapy (immunosuppressive therapy) is used if the disease is in its critical state. Other therapy recommended as treatment include renal replacement therapy (transplantation or hemodialysis) In case of a severe/ very acute condition, diuretics are recommended. |
Pathophysiology
Nephrotic syndrome entails partial or complete damage to the glomerular filtration blockage that often leads to protein loss. Nephritic syndrome is characterized by the impairment of the glomerular capillary membrane in which the wall cannot undertake its function effectively and often stops (disruption of the GBM) (Tan et al., 2015). It is also characterized by salt retention. On the other hand, Nephrotic syndrome is hypothesized to be caused by albumin loss leading to the colloid pressure ( Niaudet & Boyer, 2016) . According to the theory, the leading cause is the retention of renal sodium. Other resulting causes of the syndrome include systematic illnesses that negatively affect vital parts of the body, such as lupus erythematosus, amyloidosis, and diabetes.
References
Niaudet, P., & Boyer, O. (2016). Idiopathic nephrotic syndrome in children: clinical aspects. Pediatric nephrology , 839-882.
Ponticelli, C., & Glassock, R. J. (Eds.). (2019). Treatment of primary glomerulonephritis . Oxford University Press.
Tan, H., Xu, Y., Lan, X. M., Wu, Y. G., Zhou, C. J., & Yang, X. C. (2015). Chromoblastomycosis due to Fonsecaea monophora in a man with nephritic syndrome. Mycopathologia , 179 (5-6), 447-452.
