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Complications
By Mayo Clinic staff- High cholesterol. Levels of cholesterol and triglycerides are often high in people with membranous nephropathy, which greatly increases their risk of heart disease.
- Blood clots. Loss of protein from the blood into the urine (proteinuria) in people with membranous nephropathy includes loss of proteins that help prevent clotting. So you are prone to having blood clots and are at risk of clots forming in deep veins or clots traveling to the lungs and blocking blood flow.
- High blood pressure. The buildup of wastes in your bloodstream (uremia) and salt retention can raise your blood pressure.
- Infections. You are at increased risk of infections because you lose proteins in the urine that protect you from infection.
- Nephrotic syndrome. This is a group of signs and symptoms that may accompany conditions that affect the filtering ability of the glomeruli. Nephrotic syndrome is characterized by high protein levels in the urine, low protein levels in the blood, high blood cholesterol, and swelling (edema) of the eyelids, feet and abdomen.
- Acute kidney failure. In severe cases of damage to the glomeruli, waste products may build up quickly in your blood. You may need emergency dialysis to remove extra fluids and waste from your blood.
- Chronic kidney failure. Your kidneys may gradually lose their function over time to the point where you may require dialysis or a kidney transplant.
References
- Appel GB. Glomerular disorders and nephrotic syndromes. In: Goldman L, et al. Cecil Medicine. 24th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2011. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/191371208-2/0/1492/0.html#. Accessed June 9, 2011.
- Fervenza FC, et al. Idiopathic membranous nephropathy: Diagnosis and treatment. Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology. 2008;3:905.
- Swaminathan S, et al. Changing incidence of glomerular disease in Olmsted County, Minnesota: A 30-year renal biopsy study. Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology. 2006;1:483.
- Beck LH, et al. Causes and diagnosis of membranous nephropathy. http://www.uptodate.com/contents/causes-and-diagnosis-of-membranous-nephropathy. Accessed June 9, 2011.
- Cattran D. Treatment of idiopathic membranous nephropathy. http://www.uptodate.com/contents/treatment-of-idiopathic-membranous-nephropathy. Accessed June 9, 2011.
- Coping effectively: A guide to living well with kidney failure. National Kidney Foundation. http://www.kidney.org/atoz/pdf/coping.pdf. Accessed July 18, 2011.
- What is proteinuria? National Kidney & Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse. http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/proteinuria/. Accessed July 18, 2011.
- Fervenza FC, et al. Rituximab therapy in idiopathic membranous nephropathy: A 2-year study. Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology. 2010;5:2188.
- Fervenza FC, et al. Rituximab in idiopathic membranous nephropathy. Kidney International. 2008;73:117.
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