Nephrotic Syndrome Symptoms

Several diseases can cause damage to your kidneys and destroy their ability to properly filter wastes. Protein, for example, is normally too large to pass through the kidneys' filters. When there is damage, protein can be lost through the urine instead of being absorbed into your blood. This is a condition known as nephrotic syndrome.

Fluid retention is a main symptom of nephrotic syndromes. This is because protein is necessary for the body to keep its fluid balance. When you lose protein through your urine, it cannot do its job in the blood. Therefore, fluid can build up in the body. You may experience swelling around your eyes, in your legs, ankles, or fingers.

Nephrotic syndromes are caused by different diseases. For example, diabetes, membranous nephropathy, and FSGS can cause kidney damage so that your body loses protein through your urine. High cholesterol and blood clots can also indicate nephrotic syndrome. If you have any of the symptoms of nephrotic syndrome, your doctor will want to make a firm diagnosis to figure out they underlying causes of your symptoms.

Because there is not one single cause of nephrotic syndrome, it is important to understand why you have it. It is important to treat the underlying causes, rather than just the symptoms. This is the best way to treat the disorder and prevent further damage to the kidneys. If it is left untreated, it can lead to kidney failure--either acute or chronic renal failure.