Definition:
Glomerulonephritis is a type of kidney disease in which the part of your kidneys that helps filter waste and fluids from the blood is damaged.
Alternative Names:
Glomerulonephritis - chronic; Chronic nephritis; Glomerular disease; Necrotizing glomerulonephritis; Glomerulonephritis - crescentic; Crescentic glomerulonephritis; Rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis
Causes, incidence, and risk factors:
Glomerulonephritis may be caused by specific problems with the body's immune system. Often, the precise cause of glomerulonephritis is unknown. Damage to the glomeruli causes blood and protein to be lost in the urine. The condition may develop quickly, with loss of kidney function occurring over weeks and months (called rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis). In about a quarter of people with chronic glomerulonephritis there is no history of kidney disease and the disorder first appears as chronic renal failure. The following increase your risk of developing this condition: Many conditions are known to cause or increase the risk for glomerulonephritis, including:
References:
Nachman PH, Jennette JC, Falk RJ. Primary glomerular disease. In: Brenner BM, ed. Brenner and Rector's The Kidney. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa:Saunders Elsevier;2007:chap 30. Haymart MR, Atta MG. Glomerular disease. In: Nilsson KR Jr., Piccini JP. The Osler Medical Handbook. 2nd ed. Philadelphia Pa: Saunders Elsevier;2006:chap 65.
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