What is this condition?
Chronic glomerulonephritis is a slowly progressive disease, marked by inflammation of the kidneys. The inflammation leads to hardening and scarring of tissue and eventual kidney failure.
People with this condition usually don’t develop symptoms until the disease is advanced. By this time, the person with chronic glomerulonephritis usually cannot be cured and must rely on dialysis or a kidney transplant.
What causes it?
Common causes of chronic glomerulonephritis include a long list of preexisting kidney disorders, and it may be linked to some other diseases such as strep, lupus, and Goodpasture’s syndrome.
What are its symptoms?
Since it develops slowly and silently, people with chronic glomerulonephritis may not have symptoms for many years. At any time, however, it may suddenly worsen, producing high blood pressure and protein and blood in the urine, possibly followed by symptoms of uremic poisoning, such as nausea, vomiting, itchy skin, difficult breathing, and fatigue. Mild to severe swelling and anemia may accompany these symptoms. When the disease involves the heart or leads to kidney failure, the person will require dialysis or a kidney transplant.
How is it diagnosed?
Because the doctor usually can’t detect glomerulonephritis with a physical exam or questions, he or she will order urinalysis, which may show blood, protein, and debris from the damaged kidneys. The doctor may use blood tests and X-ray or ultrasound to learn more, and then a kidney biopsy to identify the exact cause and gather data to plan the persons therapy.
How is it treated?
The doctor first works to reduce the person’s symptoms and to control high blood pressure with drugs and a low-potassium diet.
The doctor may restrict and guide the person’s fluid consumption and prescribe diuretics to prevent congestive heart failure. Treatment may also include antibiotics (for urinary tract infections) and, eventually, dialysis or transplantation.