What are the causes and symptoms of nephrotic syndrome?
Nephrotic syndrome can be caused by a number of different diseases. The common mechanism which seems to cause damage involves the immune system. For some reason, the immune system seems to become directed against the person’s own kidney. The glomeruli become increasingly leaky as various substances from the immune system are deposited within the kidney. A number of different kidney disorders are associated with nephrotic syndrome, including: • minimal change disease or MCD (responsible for about 80% of nephrotic syndrome in children, and about 20% in adults) MCD is a disorder of the glomeruli • focal glomerulosclerosis • membranous glomerulopathy • membranoproliferative glomerulonephropathy Other types of diseases can also result in nephrotic syndrome. These include diabetes, sickle-cell anemia, amyloidosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, sarcoidosis, leukemia, lymphoma, cancer of the breast, colon, and stomach, reactions to drugs (including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, lithium
