CORE Kidney

Glomerulonephritis

What is Glomerulonephritis?

Glomerulonephritis is group of conditions in which the filtration system of the kidneys, more specifically known as Glomeruli, are affected. Glomeruli act as tiny filters which remove excess water, waste and electrolytes from our blood and pass them into urine. Damage to glomeruli can result in spilling over of proteins and blood in the urine which should not happen normally. It can also result in hypertension (High blood pressure) and swelling of the legs, hands and face due to fluid retention Glomerulonephritis can occur on its own or can be associated with another disease such as Diabetes.

Glomerulonephritis can occur because of some of the following causes:

  • Infections - such as throat infection from bacteria called Streptococcus
  • Immune diseases such as Lupus
  • High Blood pressure (Hypertension)
  • Diabetic Kidney disease
  • Unknown causes

Symptoms may include:

  • Loss of appetite
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Fatigue/tiredness
  • Sleeping difficulties
  • Foamy/bubbly urine
  • Urine disturbances
  • Puffiness of face, swelling of ankles

Treatment:

Treatment of glomerulonephritis is multifaceted. It can include dietary changes, blood pressure medications, steroids, etc. based on the underlying cause and the overall severity of the disease.

Learn more about Glomerulonephritis from Dr Ramy M. Hanna & Dr Umet Selamet.

Disclaimer: The UCLA Health System cannot guarantee the accuracy of such information. The information is provided without warranty or guarantee of any kind. Please speak to your Physician before making any changes.