Saturday, 16 May 2015

Nephrotic Syndrome

Nephrotic syndrome is a disorder where the kidneys have been damaged, causing them to leak protein from blood into the urine. It is also termed as Nephrosis

The causes of nephritic syndrome are progressive glomerulonephritis, disease such as diabetes, collagen disease or drug reactions, from exposure to heavy metals, or even from a reaction to toxin venom following a bee sting.

It is characterized by massive oedema and protinuria, hypoalbuminemia (low levels of albumin in blood), hypercholesterolemia (high cholesterol levels in blood) and abnormal bone metabolism. Pedal (foot) and periorbital (around the orbit of the eye) oedema and ascitis (fluid in abdominal cavity) are common. The continued loss of protein may cause tissue breakdown and lead to malnutrition.
As the disease progresses, calcium or phosphate levels in blood maybe altered due to altered Vitamin D levels, resulting in oesteomalacia.

The major objectives of dietary management of this condition are to control and correct protein deficiency and correct and prevent oedema and maintain adequate nutrition to afford better resistance to infection.


The dietary guidelines for nephritic syndrome are as below.


Also read on other Diseases of the Kidney in the Diet Corner column.

Post by Faiz Lahori

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