Glomerulopathies are medical condition, in which inflammation mostly affects the glomeruli. Glomerulopathies are similar because glomeruli react to few types of injury in the same way.

Glomerulopathies are classified in 4 main types:

1. Acute nephritic syndrome begins abruptly and generally resolves soon

2. Rapidly progressive nephritic syndrome begins abruptly and becomes worse quickly

3. Nephrotic syndrome causes large amounts of protein loss in the person’s urine

4. Chronic nephritic syndrome begins slowly and becomes worse slowly, frequently over years

When the glomerulus is injured, substance is not normally cleared out of blood (substances such as white blood cells, protein, debris, and blood) may pass through glomerulus and invade the urine. Microthrombi (blood clots) can form in the capillaries that are supplying the glomerulus; they can significantly lower the produced urine’s number.

Additionally, the kidney can become unable to collect urine, salt excretion balance, or excrete acid from the person’s body. For all types of Glomerulopathies, the exact diagnosis is made by doing a kidney biopsy, which is tested under a microscope. Urinalysis helps assist in the diagnosis, and blood tests reveal kidney’s function damage extent. Measuring levels of antibodies in blood sample may help check the progression of the Glomerulopathies by defining whether the levels are falling (condition is improving) or rising (condition becomes worse). The prognosis and course of a Glomerulopathy are vary and base on the underlying causes. Although, the immune reaction that results in various kidneys diseases are recently understood; in most cases, the treatment either is not certain to the immune disorders or is not available.

A doctor attempts to modify the immune reactions by removing antibodies, antigen or combination of two with specific procedures such as plasmapheresis, which removes harmful substance from the person’s blood or attempts to suppress the immune reactions with anti-inflammatory medications and immuno-suppressant medications such as Cyclophosphamide, Azathioprine, and Corticosteroids.

Sometimes, medications preventing blood clotting are prescribed. If possible, certain treatment for the underlying problems is given, for instance, antibiotics to treat an infection.

This entry was filed under Diseases and Conditions.

Tags: acute nephritic syndrome, glomerulopathy, glomerulus, immune disorders, kidney biopsy, salt excretion