overview
In a kidney
Kidney Cross Section Open the pop-up dialog box
Membrane nephropathy (MEM-bruh-nus nuh-FROP-uh-thee) occurs when the small blood vessels in the kidney (glomeruli) that filter waste products from the blood are damaged and thickened. This causes proteins to escape from damaged blood vessels in the urine (proteinuria). For many, the loss of these proteins ultimately leads to the signs and symptoms known as nephrotic syndrome.
In mild cases, membranous nephropathy can improve on its own without treatment. As protein leakage increases, so does the risk of long-term kidney damage. In many cases, the disease ultimately leads to kidney failure. There is no absolute cure for membranous nephropathy, but successful treatment can lead to proteinuria remission and good long-term prospects. Membranous nephropathy Treatment in Hyderabad
symptoms
Membrane nephropathy can develop gradually so you cannot suspect anything is wrong. When you lose protein from your blood, you may experience swelling of your legs and ankles, and weight gain from excess fluids. Many people have had severe swelling since the onset of the disease, but others may not have severe symptoms until they have advanced kidney disease. Membranous nephropathy Treatment in Hyderabad
The signs and symptoms of membranous nephropathy include:
- Swelling of the legs and ankles
- Weight gain
- Tired
- Small appetite
- Urine that looks frothy
- High cholesterol
- Increased protein in the urine (proteinuria)
- Decreased blood protein, especially albumin
The reasons
Often times, membranous nephropathy results from some type of autoimmune activity. Your body’s immune system views healthy tissue as foreign and attacks it with substances called autoantibodies. These autoantibodies target specific proteins that are located in the kidney filtration systems (glomeruli). This is known as primary membranous nephropathy. Membranous nephropathy Treatment in Hyderabad
Sometimes membranous nephropathy is caused by other causes. When this happens, it is called secondary membranous nephropathy. The causes can be:
- Autoimmune diseases such as lupus erythematosus
- Infection with hepatitis B, hepatitis C, or syphilis
- Certain medications such as gold salts and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
- Solid cancerous tumors or cancers of the blood
Risk factors
Factors that can increase your risk for membranous nephropathy include:
- Have a disease that can damage your kidneys. Certain diseases and conditions increase your risk of developing membranous nephropathy, such as lupus and other autoimmune diseases.
- Use of certain drugs. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and gold salts are examples of drugs that can cause membranous nephropathy.
- Exposure to certain infections. Hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and syphilis are examples of infections that increase the risk of membranous nephropathy.
- Genetic background. Certain genetic factors make you more likely to develop membranous nephropathy. Membranous nephropathy Treatment in Hyderabad