Glomerulonephritis Specialists in Ignou, Delhi

What is Glomerulonephritis?

Glomerulonephritis is inflammation of the glomeruli, the tiny clusters of blood vessels within the kidneys responsible for filtering waste and excess fluid from the blood. This inflammation impairs the kidneys' filtering ability, allowing blood and protein to leak into the urine while also disrupting the normal removal of waste products and fluid regulation. The condition can occur suddenly as an acute episode, often following an infection or as part of an autoimmune disease flare, or develop gradually as a chronic process that slowly damages kidney function over years. A wide range of underlying causes can trigger glomerulonephritis, including infections, autoimmune diseases, and certain inherited conditions, each requiring different diagnostic and treatment approaches. If left untreated, particularly chronic forms, glomerulonephritis can progress to chronic kidney disease and eventually kidney failure, making prompt diagnosis and targeted treatment important.

Causes of Glomerulonephritis

Caused by immune system-related damage to the kidney's filtering units, triggered by infections such as streptococcal throat or skin infections, autoimmune diseases such as lupus, IgA nephropathy, or vasculitis, or, less commonly, inherited conditions affecting kidney structure. The immune response involved can directly attack the kidney tissue or cause immune complexes to deposit within the glomeruli, triggering inflammation and damage. Certain infections, particularly untreated streptococcal infections, are a well-recognised trigger for acute glomerulonephritis, especially in children.

Symptoms of Glomerulonephritis

Blood in the urine giving it a pink, red, or cola colour, foamy urine from protein loss, swelling in the face, legs, or abdomen, high blood pressure, reduced urine output, fatigue, headache, in advanced disease symptoms of kidney failure

Treatment & Types of Glomerulonephritis in Ignou, Delhi

Treatment depends on the underlying cause and may include corticosteroids and other immunosuppressive medications to control the immune-related inflammation, particularly in autoimmune-related forms. Blood pressure control using ACE inhibitors or ARBs helps protect kidney function and reduce protein loss in the urine. Cases caused by infection require treatment of the underlying infection, while advanced disease progressing to kidney failure may eventually require dialysis or kidney transplantation.

Glomerulonephritis is classified as acute, often triggered by an infection like streptococcal throat infection and sometimes resolving with treatment of the underlying cause, or chronic, a slower progressive process that can lead to kidney failure over years. It is further categorized by underlying mechanism into post-infectious, autoimmune, such as lupus nephritis or IgA nephropathy, and vasculitis-associated forms, each requiring a different treatment approach guided by kidney biopsy findings.

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