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Nephrotic syndrome is a condition that causes the kidneys to “leak” protein from the blood to the urine. In adults, nephrotic syndrome is often a sign of kidney damage or underlying problem.
What is nephrotic syndrome?
How can I prevent nephrotic syndrome?
What are the symptoms?
How will I know if I have nephrotic syndrome?
Is there a cure for nephrotic syndrome?
What are the treatments?
More Information
Learn about Childhood Nephrotic Syndrome.
What is nephrotic syndrome?
Healthy kidneys filter waste and extra fluid from blood. The body gets rid of these wastes and fluid through urine. In nephrotic syndrome, some protein gets removed along with the wastes. This is a problem, because the body needs protein.
Protein acts as a sponge in the blood. It holds fluids that the body needs inside the arteries and veins. If there is not enough protein, this fluid leaks out into other body tissues. The result is edema, or swelling. This usually happens around the eyes, face, feet, ankles and abdomen.
How can I prevent nephrotic syndrome?
In adults, nephrotic syndrome happens when the kidneys are damaged, often by diabetes or high blood pressure. The best way to reduce your risk of getting nephrotic syndrome is to prevent diabetes and high blood pressure. If you have diabetes or high blood pressure, make sure to keep it in control with diet, exercise and any medicines that your doctor prescribes.
What are the symptoms?
- Swelling around the eyes, face, feet and ankles.
- A urine test will show high protein levels.
- A blood test will show low protein levels and high cholesterol.
How will I know if I have nephrotic syndrome?
Your doctor can do a couple of tests to find out if you have nephrotic syndrome.
First, the doctor will test a sample of your urine for protein. If this test is positive for protein, the doctor will want to test your urine again. You may be asked to collect your urine for 24 hours at home. Your doctor will check to see how much protein is in this 24-hour sample.
If the protein level is high in the 24-hour sample, your doctor may do a blood test. Low protein and high cholesterol in your blood test may be further signs of nephrotic syndrome.
If a diagnosis is still unclear, your doctor may ask that you have a biopsy. This means that a tiny piece of your kidney will be removed and viewed under a microscope. Usually, this can be done with a needle and does not require surgery. A kidney biopsy may also help the doctor find any underlying problems.
Is there a cure for nephrotic syndrome?
There is no cure for nephrotic syndrome. Treating the symptoms and controlling protein loss are the only options.
What treatments are available?
Your doctor may prescribe a diuretic (“water pill”) and suggest a low-sodium (low-salt) diet to treat the swelling caused by nephrotic syndrome. Healthy habits to avoid causing more damage to the kidneys are also recommended. These include good diet, exercise and medicines to keep blood pressure and blood sugar at healthy levels. Any other problems that your doctor finds from a blood test or biopsy should also be treated.
More Information
National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse
http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/nephrotic/
National Kidney Foundation
http://www.kidney.org/atoz/atozItem.cfm?id=93
NephCure Foundation
http://www.nephcure.org/
FSGS - Brigham and Women's Hospital/Harvard Medical School
The Brigham and Women's Hospital/Harvard Medical School is running a research project on FSGS (focal segmental glomerular sclerosis) and other causes of nephrotic syndrome, kidney failure, and proteinuria at the Brigham and Women?s Hospital/Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts. Click here to learn more.
Click here to download the FSGS brochure.
Page Updated: 1/10/2008 | 
