Acute nephritic syndrome

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Kidney anatomy

Acute nephritic syndrome is a group of disorders that cause inflammation of the internal kidney structures (specifically, the glomeruli).

Glomerulonephritis - acute; Acute glomerulonephritis; Nephritis syndrome - acute

Acute nephritic syndrome is often caused by an immune response triggered by an infection or other disease.

Causes seen more frequently in children and adolescents include the following:

• IgA nephropathy
• Henoch-Schonlein purpura
• Hemolytic uremic syndrome
• Post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis

Associated diseases seen more frequently in adults include:

• SLE or lupus nephritis
• Membranoproliferative GN I
• Membranoproliferative GN II
• Infective endocarditis
• Vasculitis
• Rapidly progressive (crescentic) glomerulonephritis
• Goodpasture's syndrome
• Klebsiella pneumonia
• Abdominal abscesses
• Viral diseases such as mononucleosis, measles, mumps
• Typhoid fever
• Hepatitis
• Syphilis and other sexually transmitted diseases

Inflammation disrupts the functioning of the glomerulus, which is the part of the kidney that controls filtering and excretion. This inefficient functioning results in blood and protein appearing in the urine, and the accumulation of excess fluid in the body. Swelling results when protein is lost from the blood stream. (Protein maintains fluid within the blood vessels, and when it is lost the fluid collects in the tissues of the body).

Urine discoloration results from blood in the urine. This occurs because of loss of blood within the damaged glomeruli.

Acute nephritic syndrome may be associated with the development of high blood pressure, interstitial inflammation (inflammation of the spaces between the cells of the kidney tissue), and acute kidney failure.

Review Date: 09/13/2005
Reviewed By: Robert Mushnick, M.D., Clinical Assistant Professor, SUNY Downstate Health Center, Brooklyn, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.