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Complications
By Mayo Clinic staffComplications of glomerulonephritis may include:
- Acute kidney failure. Loss of function in the filtering part of the nephron may cause waste products to accumulate rapidly. This condition may mean you'll need emergency dialysis, an artificial means of removing extra fluids and waste from your blood, typically by an artificial kidney machine (dialyzer).
- Chronic kidney failure. In this extremely serious complication, the kidneys gradually lose function. Kidney function at less than 10 percent of normal capacity indicates end-stage kidney disease, which usually requires dialysis or a kidney transplant to sustain life.
- High blood pressure. Damage to your kidneys and the resulting buildup of wastes in the bloodstream can raise your blood pressure.
- Nephrotic syndrome. This is a group of signs and symptoms that may accompany glomerulonephritis and other conditions that affect the filtering ability of the glomeruli. Nephrotic syndrome is characterized by high protein levels in the urine, resulting in low protein levels in the blood; high blood cholesterol; and swelling from fluid retention (edema) of the eyelids, feet and abdomen.
References
- Your kidneys and how they work. National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse. http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/yourkidneys/index.htm#rate. Accessed Jan. 29, 2009.
- Glomerulonephritis. National Kidney Foundation. http://www.kidney.org/atoz/atozItem.cfm?id=65. Accessed Jan. 29, 2009.
- Glomerular diseases. National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse. http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/glomerular/. Accessed Jan. 29, 2009.
- Introduction: Glomerular diseases. The Merck Manuals Online Library: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/sec17/ch235/ch235a.html#S17_CH2. Accessed Feb. 3, 2009.
- Rose BD, et al. Differential diagnosis of glomerular disease. http://www.uptodate.com/online/content/topic.do?topicKey=glom_dis/11. Accessed Feb. 3, 2009.
- Nachman PH, et al. Primary Glomular Disease. In: Brenner BM, et al. Brenner and Rector's The Kidney. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/125541428-3/815444355/1583/33.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-3105-5..50032-3--cesec59_1945 Accessed March 12, 2009.
