What Is Nephrotic Syndrome?

A nephrotic syndrome is a group of symptoms that indicate kidneys are not functioning as they should. The condition can result from diseases that affect the kidneys in the first place. It can occur in both adults and children. 

According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease (NIDDk), a systemic disease called diabetes mostly causes nephrotic syndrome. FSGS or Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis is a kidney-related condition that mostly causes nephrotic syndrome.

Nephrotic syndrome occurs when the tiny blood vessels in the kidneys called glomeruli are damaged and slightly working. Glomeruli are vessels that help the body in removing water and waste molecules from the blood and producing urine out of this waste. These vessels allow blood cells and large protein molecules to remain in the blood during the whole process. When the glomeruli become damaged, protein may skip through the filters into the urine. Losing such a significant amount of protein can be troublesome for the health as protein do various regulatory functions. Nephrotic syndrome can lead to serious complications and treatment such as Nephrotic syndrome treatment in Ayurveda is necessary without delay.

What are the signs and symptoms of nephrotic syndrome?

The nephrotic syndrome involves the following signs:

• Albuminuria: The presence of an abnormal amount of protein in the urine. 
• Hypoalbumenia: Relatively low protein level in the blood. 
• Hyperlipidemia: Excess fat and cholesterol buildup in the blood.

There is another term that is interchangeably used with nephrotic syndrome, and that is a nephritic syndrome. Similar to the nephritic syndrome, it also denotes protein in the urine but not to that extent. A person with nephrotic syndrome may also have little symptoms of blood in the urine, which is not there in patients with nephrotic syndrome. 

Other common signs related to nephrotic syndrome may include:

• swelling or edema, typically in the ankles, feet, or legs
• fatigue
• loss of appetite
• weight gain
• foamy urine

Foamy urine is what occurs due to nephrotic syndrome. Albumin makes the urine a little foamy, which looks like a beaten egg. 

What are the possible causes of nephrotic syndrome?

Many conditions may lead to damage in the glomeruli and cause nephrotic syndrome. Some of these conditions may include:

• Diabetic kidney disease. Diabetes or high blood sugar can affect the glomeruli and cause diabetic kidney disease. 
• Minimal change disease. It is the most apparent cause of child nephrotic syndrome. Minimal change disease affects kidneys' functionality, but when renal tissues are seen through a microscope, they appear normal. The cause is typically not determined yet.
• Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. It is the scarring of the glomeruli that may result from a condition like a genetic defect or medications. 
• Membranous nephropathy. It occurs when the membranes in the glomeruli thicken. The thickening can be due to the deposits made by the immune system. Other conditions also contribute to membranous nephropathies, such as lupus, hepatitis B, malaria, and cancer.
• Systemic lupus erythematosus. It is a chronic kidney disease that gradually pulls down nephrotic syndrome. 
• Amyloidosis. Amyloid is a type of protein that accumulates in the organs when you have Amyloidosis. It often damages the kidney’s filtration capacity. 

Risk factors

Certain conditions may put a person at the risk of nephrotic syndrome and may include:

• Medical conditions that can damage your kidneys. These may include conditions and diseases such as diabetes, lupus, amyloidosis, reflux nephropathy, etc.
• Medications. Medicines that might trigger nephrotic syndrome include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and drugs used to fight infections.
• Infections. Infections also increase the risk of nephrotic syndrome—for instance, HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and malaria.

What are the morbidities linked to nephrotic syndrome?

Blood clots. The inability of the glomeruli to filter the blood properly can lead to protein loss. Albumin helps prevent the risk of blood clots and reduce the risk of clotting in veins. 

• High blood cholesterol and elevated blood triglycerides. When the protein albumin level in the blood falls, the liver starts to make albumin. In the same process, the liver releases more cholesterol and triglycerides. 
• Poor nutrition. Loss of protein also leads to malnutrition, weight loss, and also edema. The person who has nephrotic syndrome may notice anemia, low blood protein levels, and low levels of vitamin D at the same time. 
• High blood pressure. Significant loss of kidney function can cause fluid to buildup in the blood and cause hypertension levels to rise. 
• Acute kidney injury. If your kidneys lose their ability to filter the blood due to glomeruli being damaged, waste products may pool up in the blood. If this happens, you may suffer acute kidney failure, which happens all of a sudden.
• Chronic kidney disease. While AKF is the sudden loss of kidney function, CKD is characterized by the gradual loss. If kidney function fails to an extent, dialysis, transplant, or nephrotic syndrome cure in Ayurveda is needed at the right time. 

How can nephrotic syndrome be diagnosed?

Urine test: The test checks for protein levels in the urine. 

Blood test: The test measures the level of albumin, cholesterol, and other components in the blood. 

Kidney biopsy: Done with the help of kidney tissue, your doctor might request a biopsy to look for microscopic changes in the kidney.

Ultrasound: Imaging tests are done to see the structure of the kidneys for any abnormality. 

Treatment

Nephrotic syndrome can develop suddenly or gradually, as the case may be. There is no age group nephrotic syndrome hits more; if it happens in children, it affects the age group between 18 months and 4 years. Both males and females are affected with nephrotic syndrome at any age. 

The treatment mostly includes nephrotic syndrome treatment in Ayurveda. As Ayurveda has the capacity to rejuvenate the damaged portion of glomeruli, the treatment ensures permanent recovery of the kidney function. The use of herbs and spices in the medicines ensures that the kidney’s filters, including the nephrons and glomeruli, are functional proper.