Nephropathy
Nephropathy
Nephropathy (pronounced: neh-FROP-uh-thee) is a term that refers to any disease or damage that affects the kidneys. The term is derived from the Greek words nephros meaning kidney and pathos meaning disease.
Types of Nephropathy
There are several types of nephropathy, including:
- Diabetic nephropathy: This is a serious kidney-related complication of type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes. It is also called diabetic kidney disease.
- IgA nephropathy: This is a kidney disease that occurs when an antibody called immunoglobulin A (IgA) lodges in your kidneys. This results in local inflammation that, over time, may hamper your kidneys' ability to filter wastes from your blood.
- Membranous nephropathy: This is a kidney disorder that leads to changes and inflammation of the structures inside the kidney that help filter wastes and fluids.
- Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis: This is a disease in which scar tissue develops on the parts of the kidneys that filter waste from the blood (glomeruli).
Symptoms
Symptoms of nephropathy can vary significantly depending on the type and stage of the disease. Common symptoms may include:
- Edema: Swelling in parts of the body, particularly in the legs and feet.
- Proteinuria: High levels of protein in the urine.
- Hematuria: Blood in the urine.
- Hypertension: High blood pressure.
Treatment
Treatment for nephropathy typically involves managing the underlying condition that's causing the kidney damage. This may include:
- Medication: To control associated symptoms such as high blood pressure.
- Dietary changes: A diet low in protein, cholesterol, and sodium may help slow the progression of the disease.
- Dialysis: In severe cases, a machine is used to filter and clean the blood.
- Kidney transplant: In cases where the kidneys have failed, a transplant may be necessary.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Nephropathy
- Wikipedia's article - Nephropathy
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