Nephrotic syndrome causes

Wheeler DC, Bernard DB. Lipid abnormalities in the nephrotic syndrome Causes, consequences, and treatment. Am J Kidney Dis 1994 23 331-346. 

Loop diuretics are used in the treatment of edema associated with CHF, cirrhosis of the liver, and renal disease, including the nephrotic syndrome. These drug s are particularly useful when a greater diuretic effect is desired. Furosemide is the drug of choice when a rapid diuresis is needed or if the patient has renal insufficiency. Furosemide and torsemide are also used to treat hypertension. Ethacrynic acid is also used for the short-term management of ascites caused by a malignancy, idiopathic edema, or lymphedema. 

Amiloride (Midamor) is used in the treatment of CHF and hypertension and is often used with a thiazide diuretic. Spironolactone and triamterene are also used in tiie treatment of hypertension and edema caused by CHF, cirrhosis, and the nephrotic syndrome Amiloride, spironolactone, and triamterene are also available with hydrochlorothiazide, a thiazide diuretic that enhances tiie antihypertensive and diuretic effects of the drug combination while still conserving potassium. 

Clofibrate causes a necrotizing myopathy, particularly in patients with renal failure, nephrotic syndrome or hypothyroidism. The myopathy is painful and myokymia of unknown origin is sometimes present. The mechanism of damage is not known, but p-chlorophenol is a major metabolite of clofibrate and p-chlorophe-nol is a particularly potent uncoupler of cellular oxidative phosphorylation and disrupts the fluidity of lipid membranes. Muscle damage is repaired rapidly on the cessation of treatment. 

Hypotonic hyponatremia with an increase in ECF is also known as dilutional hyponatremia. In this scenario, patients have an excess of total body sodium and TBW however, the excess in TBW is greater than the excess in total body sodium. Common causes include CHF, hepatic cirrhosis, and nephrotic syndrome. Treatment includes sodium and fluid restriction in conjunction with treatment of the underlying disorder—for example, salt and water restrictions are used in the setting of CHF along with loop diuretics, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, and spironolactone.15... 

Metolazone acts on the distal tubules, thus increasing excretion of water and sodium, potassium, and chloride ions. It is used for treating edema caused by cardiac insufficiency and adrenal irregularities, including nephrotic syndrome. Synonyms of this drug are diulo, matenix, and zaroxolyn. 

This drug is recommended in combination with other diuretics for treating edema caused by usual reasons such as circulatory insufficiency, cirrhosis of the liver, and nephrotic syndrome. Synonyms of this drug are diazide, reviten, pterophene, and others. 

Edematous states To induce diuresis or remission of proteinuria in the nephrotic syndrome (without uremia) of the idiopathic type or that caused by lupus erythematosus. 

Hyperlipidemia, secondary causes Prior to initiating therapy, exclude secondary causes of hyperlipidemia (eg, poorly controlled diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism, nephrotic syndrome, dysproteinemias, obstructive liver disease, other drug therapy, alcoholism) and measure total-C, HDL-C, and triglycerides. 

This syndrome is characterized by proteinuria >3.5 g/day, hypoalbuminuria <3 g/dl, hyperlip-idaemia with an elevation of serum cholesterol, edema and oval fat bodies and fatty casts in the urinary sediment. A variety of disorders may produce nephrotic syndrome but, in the majority of cases, no cause is found. It is appropriate to define the selection of studies from the history and physical examination. Tests to order are antinuclear antibody, rheumatoid factor, cryoglobulins, serum complement, HBsAg VDRL serology (syphilis), protein electrophoresis of the serum and urine and HIV. If the cause is unclear a renal biopsy is done to define the glomerular lesion as treatment may on the underlying glomerular lesion. 

Hypercholesterolaemia and hypertriglyceridaemia commonly occur in patients with severe proteinuria. It may be associated with a higher incidence of cardiovascular disease. Dietary treatment is of limited value if the underlying cause of the nephrotic syndrome is not successfully controlled. Statins should be considered to lower the serum cholesterol. 

Nephrotic syndrome is characterized by proteinuria and edema due to some form of glomerulonephritis. The resulting fall in plasma protein concentration decreases vascular volume, which leads to diminished renal blood flow. This in turn causes secondary aldosteronism characterized by Na and water retention and K+ depletion. Rigid control of dietary Na is essential. Therapy of the nephrotic syndrome using a thiazide (possibly with a K -sparing diuretic) to control the secondary aldosteronism, is a useful initial approach to treatment Since nephrotic edema is frequently more difficult to control than cardiac edema, it may be necessary to switch to a loop diuretic (and spironolactone) to obtain adequate diuresis. 

It is a selective and very potent long acting glucocorticoid. It causes suppression of pituitary adrenal axis. Used in shock due to trauma, allergic emergencies, rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, nephrotic syndrome and suppression of inflammation in eye and skin disorders. 

See Table 15-6. Potassium-sparing diuretics are most useful in states of mineralocorticoid excess or hyperaldosteronism (also called aldosteronism), due either to primary hypersecretion (Conn s syndrome, ectopic adrenocorticotropic hormone production) or secondary hyperaldosteronism (evoked by heart failure, hepatic cirrhosis, nephrotic syndrome, or other conditions associated with diminished effective intravascular volume). Use of diuretics such as thiazides or loop agents can cause or exacerbate volume contraction and may cause secondary hyperaldosteronism. In the setting of enhanced mineralocorticoid secretion and excessive delivery of Na+ to distal nephron sites, renal K+ wasting occurs. Potassium-sparing diuretics of either type may be used in this setting to blunt the K+ secretory response. 

Patients with renal diseases leading to the nephrotic syndrome often present complex problems in volume management. These patients may exhibit fluid retention in the form of ascites or edema but have reduced plasma volume due to reduced plasma oncotic pressures. This is very often the case in patients with "minimal change" nephropathy. In these patients, diuretic use may cause further reductions in plasma volume that can impair GFR and may lead to orthostatic hypotension. Most other causes of nephrotic syndrome are associated with primary retention of salt and water by the kidney, leading to expanded plasma volume and hypertension despite the low plasma oncotic pressure. In these cases, diuretic therapy may be beneficial in controlling the volume-dependent component of hypertension. 

Among the more severe adverse reactions, Stevens-Johnson epidermal necrolysis syndrome, thrombocytopenia, agranulocytosis, and nephrotic syndrome have all been observed. Like diclofenac, sulindac may have some propensity to cause elevation of serum aminotransferases it is also sometimes associated with cholestatic liver damage, which disappears when the drug is stopped. 

Adverse effects do not provide a basis for preferring one or the other of the uricosuric agents. Both of these organic acids cause gastrointestinal irritation, but sulfinpyrazone is more active in this regard. A rash may appear after the use of either compound. Nephrotic syndrome has occurred after the use of probenecid. Both sulfinpyrazone and probenecid may rarely cause aplastic anemia. 

The causes of human copper deficiency include (1) low intake - malnutrition, total parenteral nutrition (TPN) (2) high loss - cystic fibrosis, nephrotic syndromes and (3) genetic factors — Menkes disease. Copper deficiency may also be associated with chronic malabsorption, a situation which is made much worse in cases of gastric and bowel resection. Several special diets, including powdered milk, liquid protein and standard hospital diets are a means of inducing copper deficiency. The amount of copper in US food has decreased steadily since 1942, and may be related to the rising incidence of coronary artery disease. A copper deficiency may also occur as the result of the use of chelators for other purposes for example, diethyl dithiocarbamate is an in vivo metabolite of ANTABUSE (disulfiram). 

Prednisolone can cause an abrupt rise in proteinuria in patients with nephrotic syndrome. A placebo-controlled study in 26 patients aged 18-68 years with nephrotic syndrome has clarified the mechanisms responsible for this (163). Systemic and renal hemodynamics and urinary protein excretion were measured after prednisolone (125 mg or 150 mg when body weight exceeded 75 kg) and after placebo. Prednisolone increased proteinuria by changing the size-selective barrier of the glomerular capillaries. Neither the renin-angiotensin axis nor prostaglandins were involved in these effects of prednisolone on proteinuria. 

Aspirin and similar NSAIDs can cause other toxic side effects if used improperly or if taken by patients who have preexisting diseases. For instance, serious hepato-toxicity is rare with normal therapeutic use, but high doses of aspirinlike drugs can produce adverse changes in hepatic function in patients with liver disease.85,99 Likewise, aspirin does not seem to cause renal disease in an individual with normal kidneys,84 but problems such as nephrotic syndrome, acute interstitial nephritis, and even acute renal failure have been observed when aspirin is given to patients with impaired renal function, or people with decreased body water (volume depletion).35,102... 

Nephrotic syndrome. Thiazide or loop diuretics are used in the treatment of this kidney disorder that causes increased protein in the urine. 

The hypothesis that the recurrence of nephrotic syndrome in about 20% of children with congenital nephrotic syndrome after renal transplantation may be caused by the immune reaction of the recipient against normal nephrin (J2), and, similarly, that patients with Alport syndrome may develop antibodies directed against glomerular basement membrane, was not substantiated. Deposition of antinephrin antibodies along the glomerular basement membrane was not demonstrated (LI). 

Nephrotic syndrome may complicate the course of many primary and secondary glomerulopathies. Diabetic nephropathy is the most common cause of nephrotic proteinuria (not always accompanied by full-blown nephrotic syndrome). Lupus nephritis and renal amyloidosis are much rarer secondary glomerulopathies resulting in nephrotic syndrome. The prevalence of primary glomerulopathies differs between Blacks and Whites (focal segmental glomerulosclerosis is more common... 

Minimal change disease is the most common cause of nephrotic syndrome in children, presenting typically with rapid onset of mostly steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome, usually with selective proteinuria (albuminuria). Light-microscopic morphology of the kidney is normal and immunofluorescence is negative. Foot process effacement on electron microscopy is the only observed pathology. 

Normal serum was recently demonstrated to contain substances inhibiting permeability factor(s). These inhibitors are not present in sera of patients with FSGS (Sll). Some of these inhibitors have been identified as apolipoproteins of the high-density lipoprotein (HDL) complex, for example, apo J, apo E2, and apo E4 (C2). Inhibitors of the permeability factors may be lost in urine in patients with nephrotic syndrome and their presence in urine has been documented (G5). FSGS may thus be caused not only by the (increased) production of permeability factors, but also by the urinary loss of their inhibitors. Bioassay (S5) is not able to differentiate between increased production of permeability factors and the loss of their inhibitors. Increased permeability was confirmed by this bioassay even in patients with FSGS and the documented mutation of the podocin gene, apparently without increased production of the permeability factors (G5). 

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