Nephrotic Syndrome Specialist
Southland Renal Medical Group
Nephrologists located in the Greater Long Beach and Orange County, CA Area
Nephrotic syndrome refers to various symptoms that indicate your kidneys aren’t working as well as they should. The experienced team at Southland Renal Medical Group, with kidney treatment centers in Long Beach, Downey, Fountain Valley, and Los Alamitos, California, are experts in all types of kidney diseases and disorders, including nephrotic syndrome. To schedule an evaluation, call Southland Renal Medical Group or book an appointment online today.
Nephrotic Syndrome Q & A
What is nephrotic syndrome?
Nephrotic syndrome is a condition that indicates your kidneys aren’t functioning normally and that the filters in your kidneys, referred to as glomeruli, may be damaged. Your glomeruli are the tiny blood vessels in your kidneys responsible for clearing the waste, proteins, and fluid from your blood. If your filtering system is damaged, then the glomeruli may allow large amounts of proteins from your blood to leak into your urine.
You may develop nephrotic syndrome from diseases that affect your kidneys, such as focal segmental glomerulosclerosis or membranous nephropathy. Or, it may result from an underlying disease such as diabetes or lupus.
What are the symptoms of nephrotic syndrome?
Edema, or swelling, which occurs due to the excessive loss of protein in your urine, is one of the most common symptoms of nephrotic syndrome. Other symptoms include:
- Fatigue
- Loss of appetite
- Weight gain
- Foamy urine
In addition to the physical symptoms you experience with nephrotic syndrome, your blood pressure and blood cholesterol levels may also increase.
If you’re experiencing these symptoms and have a condition that may place you at risk of nephrotic syndrome, contact Southland Renal Medical Group for an evaluation.
How is nephrotic syndrome diagnosed?
Your physician at Southland Renal Medical Group can determine if your symptoms are due to nephrotic syndrome through a simple urine test that assesses the protein levels in your urine. If you have protein in your urine, then additional blood work may be recommended to further assess kidney function and health. Your physician may also recommend a kidney biopsy to identify the underlying cause of your nephrotic syndrome if it’s unknown.
How is nephrotic syndrome treated?
Treatment for your nephrotic syndrome focuses on the underlying cause of the kidney damage, as well as any symptoms you may be experiencing, such as high blood pressure (hypertension), edema, or high cholesterol. Your treatment plan may include a combination of diet changes and medication.
If your physician at Southland Renal Medical Group can slow the progression of your kidney damage and get your underlying issue under control, your symptoms may go away altogether.
To learn more about your treatment options for nephrotic syndrome, call Southland Renal Medical Group or book an appointment online today.