12/12/2014

Nephrotic syndrome Causes - Diseases and Conditions - Mayo Clinic

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Nephrotic syndrome
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Nephrotic syndrome is usually

caused by damage to the
clusters of tiny blood vessels
(glomeruli) of your kidneys .

Kidney cross
section

The glomeruli filter your blood

as it passes through your kidneys, separating things your body
needs from those it doesn't. Healthy glomeruli keep blood protein
(mainly albumin) which is needed to maintain the right amount
of fluid in your body from seeping into your urine. When
damaged, glomeruli allow too much blood protein to leave your
body, leading to nephrotic syndrome.

Many possible causes

Many diseases and conditions can cause glomerular damage and
lead to nephrotic syndrome , including:
Minimal change disease. The most common cause of
nephrotic syndrome in children, this disorder results in
abnormal kidney function, but when the kidney tissue is
examined under a microscope, it appears normal or nearly
normal. The cause of the abnormal function typically can't be
determined.
Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. Characterized by
scattered scarring of some of the glomeruli, this condition
may result from another disease or a genetic defect or occur
for no known reason.
Membranous nephropathy. This kidney disorder is the result
of thickening membranes within the glomeruli. The exact
cause of the thickening isn't known, but it's sometimes
associated with other medical conditions, such as hepatitis B,
malaria, lupus and cancer.
Diabetic kidney disease. Diabetes can lead to kidney
damage (diabetic nephropathy) that affects the glomeruli .

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Systemic lupus erythematosus. This chronic inflammatory

disease can lead to serious kidney damage.
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12/12/2014

Nephrotic syndrome Causes - Diseases and Conditions - Mayo Clinic

Amyloidosis. This disorder occurs when substances called

amyloid proteins accumulate in your organs. Amyloid buildup
often affects the kidneys, damaging their filtering system.
Blood clot in a kidney vein. Renal vein thrombosis, which
occurs when a blood clot blocks a vein connected to the
kidney, can cause nephrotic syndrome.
Heart failure. Some forms of heart failure, such as constrictive
pericarditis and severe right heart failure, can cause nephrotic
syndrome.

Symptoms

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