Hospital | |
Glomerulonephritis(Glomerular Disease)How To Say It: glom-air-u-lo-nuh-FRI-tis
by
Amy Scholten, MPH DefinitionGlomerulonephritis is damage to tiny filters in the kidneys. This makes it hard for the kidneys to remove waste and make urine. The waste then builds up in the body and leads to other health problems. It may be sudden (acute) or happen slowly over time (chronic).
CausesCauses may be:
Risk FactorsThings that may raise the risk are:
SymptomsSome people do not have symptoms. Those who do may have:
DiagnosisThe doctor will ask about your symptoms and health history. A physical exam will be done. You may need to see a doctor who treats kidney diseases. Blood and urine tests will be done to check kidney function. Images may need to be taken of the kidneys. This can be done with an ultrasound. A small sample of the kidney may need to be removed and tested. This can be done with a kidney biopsy. TreatmentSome people with the acute form may get better with time. Others may need treatment to keep the kidney working. This also lowers the risk of further injury. Treatment depends on the cause. Options may be:
PreventionThe risk may be lowered by managing health problems that can harm the kidneys. RESOURCES:National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases https//www.niddk.nih.gov National Kidney Foundation https://www.kidney.org CANADIAN RESOURCES:Health Canada https://www.canada.ca The Kidney Foundation of Canada https://www.kidney.ca References:Awdishu, L., Mehta, R.L. The 6R’s of drug induced nephrotoxicity. BMC Nephrol 18, 124 (2017).
Glomerular disease-approach to patient. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/approach-to/glomerular-disease-approach-to-the-patient. Accessed December 30, 2020.
Glomerulonephritis. National Kidney Foundation website. Available at:
https://www.kidney.org/atoz/content/glomerul. Accessed December 30, 2020. Overview of glomerular disorders. Merck Manual Professional Version website. Available at: https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/genitourinary-disorders/glomerular-disorders/overview-of-glomerular-disorders. Accessed December 30, 2020. Last reviewed September 2020 by
EBSCO Medical Review Board
Adrienne Carmack, MD Last Updated: 12/30/2020 | |