Nephritis

In this website you will find a lot of information about this disease called Nephritis

What is Nephritis?

Nephritis refers to inflammation of one or both kidneys. It can be caused by infection, but is most commonly caused by autoimmune disorders that affect the major organs. For example, those with lupus are at a much higher risk for developing nephritis. In rare cases, this condition can be genetically inherited, though it may not present in childhood.
 This inflammation is a serious medical condition which is the ninth highest cause of human death. As the kidneys inflame, they begin to excrete needed protein from the body into the urine stream. This condition is called proteinuria. Loss of necessary protein due to nephritis can result in several life-threatening symptoms. Most dangerous is the loss of protein that keeps blood from clotting. This can result in blood clots causing sudden stroke.

Causes

Interstitial nephritis may be temporary (acute), or it may be long-lasting (chronic) and get worse over time.

The acute form of interstitial nephritis is most often caused by side effects of certain drugs.

The following can cause interstitial nephritis:

• Allergic reaction to a drug (acute interstitial allergic nephritis)
• Autoimmune disorders such as anti-tubular basement membrane disease, Kawasaki’s disease, Sjogren syndrome, systemic lupus erythematosus, or Wegener’s granulomatosis
• Infections
• Long-term use of medications such as acetaminophen (Tylenol), aspirin, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS). This is called analgesic nephropathy.
• Side effect of certain antibiotics (including penicillin, ampicillin, methicillin, sulfonamide medications, and others)
• Side effect of other medications such as furosemide, thiazide diuretics, omeprazole, triamterene, and allopurinol
• Too little potassium in your blood
• Too much calcium or uric acid in your blood

http://health.nytimes.com/health/guides/disease/interstitial-nephritis/overview.html

Symptoms

Interstitial nephritis can cause mild to severe kidney problems, including acute kidney failure. In about half of cases, people will have decreased urine output and other signs of acute kidney failure.

Symptoms of this condition may include:

1. Blood in the urine
2. Fever
3. Increased or decreased urine output
4. Mental status changes (drowsiness, confusion, coma)
5. Nausea, vomiting
6. Rash
7. Swelling of the body, any area
8. Weight gain (from retaining fluid)

http://health.nytimes.com/health/guides/disease/interstitial-nephritis/overview.html

Exams and Tests

The health care provider will perform a physical exam. This may reveal:

• Abnormal lung or heart sounds
• High blood pressure
• Fluid in the lungs (pulmonary edema)

• Common tests include:

• Arterial blood gases
• Blood chemistry
• BUN and blood creatinine levels
• Complete blood count
• Kidney biopsy
• Kidney ultrasound
• Urinalysis

http://health.nytimes.com/health/guides/disease/interstitial-nephritis/overview.html

Treatment

Treatment depends on the cause of the problem. Avoiding medications that lead to this condition may relieve symptoms quickly.

Limiting salt and fluid in the diet can improve swelling and high blood pressure. Limiting protein in the diet can help control the buildup of waste products in the blood (azotemia) that can lead to symptoms of acute kidney failure.

If dialysis is necessary, it usually is required for only a short time.

Corticosteroids or stronger anti-inflammatory medications such as cyclophosphamide can sometimes be helpful.

http://health.nytimes.com/health/guides/disease/interstitial-nephritis/overview.html