Nephrogenic systemic fibrosis

Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis (pronunciation: neh-fro-jen-ic sis-tem-ic fi-bro-sis) is a rare medical condition primarily affecting individuals with advanced kidney disease.

Etymology

The term "Nephrogenic" is derived from the Greek words "nephros" meaning kidney and "genesis" meaning origin. "Systemic" refers to something that is spread throughout the body, and "Fibrosis" refers to the thickening and scarring of connective tissue, usually as a result of injury.

Definition

Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis (NSF) is a disease that occurs in people with kidney disease and is characterized by the hardening or thickening of the skin. It can also affect other organs in the body, including the heart, lungs, and liver.

Symptoms

The symptoms of NSF can vary greatly from person to person. They may include skin thickening or hardening, joint contractures, muscle weakness, and in severe cases, inability to move certain body parts.

Causes

The exact cause of NSF is unknown, but it is believed to be related to exposure to gadolinium, a chemical used in certain types of MRI scans.

Treatment

Treatment for NSF is primarily focused on managing symptoms and preventing further progression of the disease. This may include physical therapy, medications to manage pain and inflammation, and in some cases, kidney transplantation.

Related Terms

• Kidney Disease
• Gadolinium
• MRI
• Fibrosis
• Systemic Disease

External links

• Medical encyclopedia article on Nephrogenic systemic fibrosis
• Wikipedia's article - Nephrogenic systemic fibrosis

This WikiMD article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.

---

Languages: - East Asian 中文, 日本, 한국어, South Asian हिन्दी, Urdu, বাংলা, తెలుగు, தமிழ், ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian Indonesian, Vietnamese, Thai, မြန်မာဘာသာ, European español, Deutsch, français, русский, português do Brasil, Italian, polski