Nephrotic Syndrome

Nephrotic Syndrome is a kidney disorder where your body passes too much protein into your urine. Your kidneys contain tiny filters, called glomeruli, which are responsible for cleaning your blood by removing waste and excess water while keeping important substances like protein in your blood. With Nephrotic Syndrome, these filters become damaged and allow essential proteins, particularly albumin, to leak out of your blood and into your urine. This is a significant problem because proteins play crucial roles in maintaining fluid balance, fighting infection, and transporting nutrients. This loss of protein from your blood leads to several problems. Low blood protein (hypoalbuminemia) can cause fluid to build up in your body, resulting in noticeable swelling (edema), especially around your eyes, ankles, and abdomen. It can also lead to high cholesterol levels and an increased risk of blood clots and infections. Nephrotic Syndrome is not a single disease but a collection of symptoms caused by various underlying conditions. These can include primary kidney diseases (where the problem starts directly in the kidneys) or secondary conditions like diabetes, lupus, certain infections, or reactions to medications. Understanding why you have Nephrotic Syndrome and monitoring its effects requires various lab tests. Urine tests are crucial to measure the amount of protein you're losing, while blood tests help assess your protein levels, cholesterol, and how well your kidneys are functioning. These tests are essential for your doctor to diagnose the condition accurately, identify its specific cause, guide your treatment plan, and keep an eye on your progress and any potential complications.