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Complications
By Mayo Clinic staffPossible complications of nephrotic syndrome include:
- Blood clots. The inability of the glomeruli to filter blood properly can lead to loss of blood proteins that help prevent clotting. This increases your risk of developing a blood clot (thrombus) in your veins.
- High blood cholesterol and elevated blood triglycerides. When your blood level of the protein albumin falls, your liver makes more albumin. At the same time, your liver releases more cholesterol and triglycerides.
- Poor nutrition. Loss of too much blood protein can result in malnutrition. This can lead to weight loss, but it may be masked by edema.
- High blood pressure. Damage to your glomeruli and the resulting buildup of wastes in your bloodstream (uremia) can raise your blood pressure.
- Acute kidney failure. If your kidneys lose their ability to filter blood due to damage to the glomeruli, waste products may build up quickly in your blood. If this happens, you may need emergency dialysis — an artificial means of removing extra fluids and waste from your blood — typically with an artificial kidney machine (dialyzer).
- Chronic kidney failure. Nephrotic syndrome may cause your kidneys to gradually lose their function over time. Kidney function at less than 10 percent to 15 percent of normal capacity is considered end-stage kidney disease, which usually requires dialysis or a kidney transplant.
- Infection. Although it's not clear why, people who have nephrotic syndrome are at an increased risk of infection, such as pneumonia.
