A kidney filter inflammation or inflammation of the kidney filters (glomerulus) is also called ‘glomerulonephritis’. In kidney filter inflammation, the filters of the kidneys are damaged. The kidney filters remove excess fluid, electrolytes and waste products from the bloodstream and this is removed through the urine. Kidney filter inflammation can occur suddenly (acute) or gradually (chronic). Kidney filter inflammation can be caused by a disease of the kidney itself or by a disease elsewhere in the body, such as infectious diseases or autoimmune diseases. Severe or long-term renal filter inflammation can damage the kidneys. The treatment depends on the type of kidney filter inflammation you have. To prevent complications, rapid diagnosis and adequate treatment are necessary.
- What is a kidney filter infection?
- Acute and chronic glomerulonephritis
- Causes of kidney filter inflammation
- Infections
- Autoimmune disorders
- Vasculitis
- Scars on the glomeruli
- Cancer
- Symptoms of a kidney filter infection
- Examination and diagnosis
- Treatment of kidney filter inflammation
- Treat underlying condition
- Outlook (forecast)
- Complications of glomerulonephritis
- Acute renal failure
- Chronic kidney disease
- High bloodpressure
- Nephrotic syndrome
- Prevention
What is a kidney filter infection?
The kidneys contain filters (glomeruli) that are important for purifying blood. Normally, every person has two kidneys and each kidney contains approximately 1 million of these filters. In the case of a kidney filter infection or glomerulonephritis, these filters become inflamed. This can damage them, resulting in the kidneys working less well or not working at all. The small holes in the kidney filters can become holes, causing useful substances such as proteins and blood cells to leak out. With a renal filter infection, both kidneys are affected.
Acute and chronic glomerulonephritis
Glomerulonephritis can vary in severity. It can be acute. This means that the inflammation comes on suddenly and lasts a short period of time, requiring minimal treatment. Or it could be chronic. That is, it lasts longer and can lead to irreversible damage to the glomeruli and kidneys, interfering with kidney function and leading to chronic kidney disease.
Causes of kidney filter inflammation
It is not known exactly how kidney filter inflammation occurs. A kidney filter infection can be a response of the kidneys to an event elsewhere in the body, but in about half of the cases there is something wrong with the kidney itself and the kidney filters may have a hereditary defect. Kidney filter inflammation can also be the result of an underlying condition. Examples of this are the following.
Child with scarlet fever / Source: Badobadop, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA-3.0)
Infections
Some infections can cause kidney filter inflammation. Examples of this are:
- In children, for example, kidney filter inflammation often occurs after infection with streptococci (and sometimes impetigo or impetigo). It often starts with an infection of the tonsils or middle ear.
- After an infection such as scarlet fever.
- After a bacterial infection of (artificial) valves of the heart (bacterial endocarditis).
- Viral infections, such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B, and hepatitis C, can cause kidney filter inflammation.
Autoimmune disorders
Some autoimmune diseases can cause kidney filter inflammation. Examples of this are:
- Lupus erythematosus (LE).
- Henoch-Schönlein syndrome.
- Wegener’s disease.
- Goodpasture syndrome: A rare immunological lung disorder that can mimic pneumonia, Goodpasture syndrome causes bleeding in the lungs and kidney filter inflammation.
- IgA nephropathy: characterized by recurrent episodes of blood in the urine. This primary glomerular disease results from deposits of immunoglobulin A (IgA) in the glomeruli. IgA nephropathy can be present for a long time without significant symptoms.
Vasculitis
Vasculitis is the collective name for conditions in which the blood vessels become inflamed.
- Polyarteritis: This form of vasculitis affects small and medium-sized blood vessels in many parts of your body, such as your heart, kidneys, and intestines.
- Granulomatosis with polyangiitis: Formerly called Wegener’s disease, this form of vasculitis affects small and medium-sized blood vessels in the lungs, upper respiratory tract, and kidneys.
Scars on the glomeruli
There are also a number of conditions and conditions that cause small scars to form on the glomeruli:
- High blood pressure: This can damage the kidneys and reduce their ability to function normally. Kidney filter inflammation can also lead to high blood pressure because it reduces kidney function and can affect how the kidneys handle sodium.
- Diabetic kidney disease (diabetic nephropathy): This can affect anyone with diabetes, usually taking years to develop. Good control of blood sugar and blood pressure can prevent or delay kidney damage.
- Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS): A condition in which small ‘scars’ (sclerosis) form on some glomeruli.
Cancer
In addition to the causes mentioned above, kidney filter inflammation is associated with certain cancers, such as multiple myeloma (also known as ‘Kahler’s disease’ in the Netherlands), lung cancer and chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
Symptoms of a kidney filter infection
The symptoms can vary and depend on the cause. The disease can be acute or chronic. In acute renal filter inflammation, symptoms develop quite suddenly. On the other hand, you probably won’t notice anything in the beginning of a chronic kidney filter infection and the complaints will develop after a while. The following complaints often occur:
- fluid retention, causing a swollen face and puffy eyes or swollen feet and legs;
- urine abnormalities:
- dark (pink or cola colored)
- foamy urine
Fatigue / Source: Istock.com/dolgachov
-
- proteinuria (loss of protein through the urine)
- hematuria (loss of blood in the urine)
raised blood pressure;
- feeling of weakness and fatigue;
- headache;
- mild fever;
- shortness of breath;
- decreased appetite;
- urinary problems
- frequent urination
- urinating at night
- dry and itchy skin
- a swollen abdomen (due to fluid retention)
- a swollen face (due to fluid retention)
- swollen eyes (due to fluid retention) and dark circles around the eyes
- swollen feet and legs (due to fluid retention)
- nocturnal muscle cramps
- sleep problems and therefore sleep deprivation
Urinalysis if a kidney filter infection is suspected / Source: Angellodeco/Shutterstock
Examination and diagnosis
The first clues for a doctor to make a diagnosis are the signs and symptoms. Finding proteins and blood cells in the urine (via urinalysis) is another sign. Blood tests can show what type of disease you have and how much damage your kidneys have suffered. In some cases a kidney biopsy is necessary. This involves removing a small piece of your kidney with a special needle and examining it under a microscope. A biopsy will help the doctor determine which treatment is best.
Treatment of kidney filter inflammation
Treat underlying condition
The treatment of renal filteritis depends on the diagnosis. If a kidney filter infection is a reaction to a disease elsewhere in the body, it will of course have to be treated adequately. In the case of a bacterial infection, treatment with an antibiotic or corticosteroid may be indicated. In case of kidney filter inflammation as a result of an autoimmune disease, you will be given corticosteroids or other drugs that suppress the immune system.
Supportive measures
If the underlying disease disappears, the kidney filters will recover or the damage will remain within limits. Supportive measures are often necessary. These may include fluid and salt restriction, medications to remove fluid and treatment of high blood pressure. Sometimes dialysis (temporary renal replacement therapy) is necessary.
Outlook (forecast)
In many cases, kidney filter inflammation can be a temporary problem that can improve (cure) completely. For example, in the case of kidney filter inflammation caused by a streptococcal infection, the long-term prognosis is generally very good: more than 98% of people have no symptoms at all five years later.
In other cases, however, kidney filter inflammation can gradually worsen, causing permanent damage to the kidney filters and leading to chronic kidney disease. Sometimes this can lead to kidney failure.
Location of the kidneys in the body / Source: Madhero88, Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)
Complications of glomerulonephritis
Kidney filter inflammation can damage your kidneys so that they lose their filtering capacity. As a result, fluid, electrolytes and waste products build up in your body, which can be very dangerous. Possible complications of renal filteritis include:
Acute renal failure
Loss of function in the filtering portion of the nephron can result in a rapid buildup of waste products (acute renal failure). You may need kidney dialysis, which artificially removes extra fluid and waste products from your blood.
Chronic kidney disease
Your kidneys slowly lose their filtering capacity. Kidney function that falls below 10 percent of normal capacity results in end-stage kidney disease, requiring dialysis or a kidney transplant to stay alive.
High bloodpressure
Damage to the kidneys and the resulting buildup of waste products in the bloodstream can increase blood pressure.
Nephrotic syndrome
If there is a lot of protein loss, a nephrotic syndrome can develop. This causes the protein levels in the blood to drop, which means that fluid from the body tissues does not return to the bloodstream. Fluid builds up in the body, not only in the bloodstream but also in the tissues. And because a lot of protein ends up in the urine, it foams. Nephrotic syndrome may be associated with high blood cholesterol and swelling (edema) of the eyelids, feet and abdomen.
Prevention
There may be no way to prevent most forms of glomerulonephritis. However, you can take some measures that may be useful:
- Seek prompt treatment for a streptococcal infection with a sore throat or impetigo.
- To prevent infections that can lead to some forms of renal filteritis, such as HIV and hepatitis, safe sexual behavior is important and avoid intravenous drug use.
- Control high blood pressure, which reduces the risk of kidney damage due to hypertension.
- Controlling your blood sugar to help prevent diabetic nephropathy.
read more
- Kidneys: function, location, anatomy and functioning of the kidneys
- Kidney Failure: Symptoms and Causes of Kidney Insufficiency
- Kidney pain: causes pain in the kidneys, kidney area and back pain
- Dark Urine: Causes of Dark Colored Pee
- Blood in the urine: causes of blood in urine in men and women
