Nephrotic Syndrome: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment

Healthy kidney filters retain most blood proteins. Damage can allow protein leakage and disturb fluid balance; blood lipids may rise. The syndrome describes a pattern with multiple causes, not a single infection.

Related reading: Does foamy urine mean protein leakage or kidney disease?.

Swelling may affect the eyelids, feet, legs or abdomen, with foamy urine, fluid-related weight gain and fatigue. Foam or puffiness alone cannot confirm nephrotic syndrome; new features require testing.

Causes include minimal change disease, other glomerular disorders, diabetes, lupus and sometimes medicines, infections or genetic conditions. Age and history influence the likely cause; childhood disease and treatment responses can differ from adult disease.

Risk depends on glomerular disease, diabetes, immune disorders, certain medicines or infections, and sometimes genetics. A risk factor does not establish the syndrome, and its absence does not exclude it.

Assessment measures urine protein, blood albumin, kidney function, lipids and blood pressure. Cause-specific tests or biopsy may be appropriate, particularly in some adults or atypical cases. Not every child needs biopsy before treatment.

Care treats the cause and controls swelling, blood pressure and protein loss. Steroids or other immune medicines help particular types, not all cases. Infection, vaccination and clot risks need assessment; anticoagulation or albumin infusions are not routine for everyone.

Complications include infections, thrombosis, hypertension, high lipids and impaired kidney function. Some forms respond and relapse; others require longer treatment. Monitoring urine, weight and symptoms as instructed helps identify recurrence.

Not every cause is preventable. Managing associated disease, avoiding kidney-harming medicines and attending monitoring can reduce complications. A dietitian can advise on salt and protein; do not replace urinary losses with unsupervised high-protein supplements.