Are you experiencing symptoms like foamy pee, swelling in the legs or ankles, and feeling unwell? If yes, you might be showing signs of nephrotic syndrome, which is a chronic kidney disease that occurs when your kidney is damaged and releases too much protein in the urine. It has no cure, but early diagnosis and treatment can help you manage its symptoms and keep your kidneys healthy. Learn about nephrotic syndrome diagnosis and treatment in this article. If you want to know more about urological health, visit us at Doral Health and Wellness Urology Center and consult with the best nephrologists and urologists in East New York.
Diagnosis
To diagnose nephrotic syndrome, the doctor orders some tests, including:
- Urinalysis tests:
A urinalysis or urine test is used to examine the visual, chemical, or microscopic aspects of your urine. Your doctor may recommend different types of urine tests. For instance, they may recommend a dipstick test, you need to pee into a special container at a doctor’s office. The doctor will place a strip of paper coated with special chemicals into the container to check if it changes color or not. If it changes color that means your urine has albumin (a type of protein).
If your doctor wants more precise measurements, they may recommend urine protein tests. In this test, you need to give a single urine sample or a 24-hour collection of urine, which gets tested in a lab. Lab technicians use these samples to compare the albumin and creatinine ratio in your urine. If your urine sample has more than 30 milligrams (mg) of albumin for each gram of creatinine, then it indicates a problem. For 24-hour urine collection, your doctor gives you many containers that you can use throughout the day. On the day of the test, you need to:
- Pee in the toilet as usual when you wake up.
- After that, pee in the container for the rest of the day until you go to sleep.
- And then, pee in the container the next morning when you wake up.
After that, drop the sample off at your doctor’s clinic or the lab and lab technicians will measure the albumin amount in your sample and send a report.
- Blood tests:
A blood test is used to measure the levels of albumin protein by taking a blood sample from your arm’s vein. This sample is sent to a lab for testing. If you have a low level of albumin or other proteins, it means you may have nephrotic syndrome. Lab technicians also test your blood for cholesterol and triglyceride levels, which are often linked with loss of albumin. If both cholesterol and blood triglyceride levels are high, then blood albumin level is low.
- Kidney biopsy:
Rarely, the doctor might recommend this test to diagnose your condition. In this test, the doctor will remove a small tissue from your kidney to examine it at a lab under a microscope. First, the doctor numbs the area with a local anesthetic so you don’t feel pain and might give a light sedative to make you feel relaxed. Then, the doctor inserts a needle through your skin into your kidney to collect the tissue sample.
If you have diabetes and the doctor suspects nephrotic syndrome, you won’t need a kidney biopsy. Other tests and medical history are enough to diagnose your condition and know the underlying cause.
Treatment
Nephrotic syndrome treatment focuses on treating the underlying cause of the condition and prevents further damage to the kidneys. Your doctor might prescribe medications and recommend some changes in your diet to manage the underlying cause. The common medications used to treat nephrotic syndrome include:
- Blood pressure medications: Drugs called angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors are prescribed to manage blood pressure and the amount of protein released in urine. It includes – lisinopril, benazepril, captopril, and enalapril. It has another group of drugs that work similarly is called angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) which include losartan and valsartan. Other medications, such as renin inhibitors are also used if other drugs fail.
- Water pills (diuretics): These medications are used to manage swelling by increasing the kidney’s fluid output. It commonly includes furosemide. Others include spironolactone and thiazides.
- Cholesterol-reducing medications: Statins are the most common medication used to reduce cholesterol levels. However, it’s not clear these medications can improve the outcomes for people with nephrotic syndrome, such as avoiding heart attacks or decreasing the risk of early death. Common statin drugs include atorvastatin, fluvastatin, lovastatin, pravastatin, rosuvastatin, and simvastatin.
- Blood thinners (anticoagulants): These medications are prescribed to lower the blood’s ability to clot, especially if you’ve had a blood clot in a vein. It includes – heparin, warfarin, dabigatran, apixaban, and rivaroxaban.
- Immune system-suppressing medications: These medications (such as corticosteroids) are prescribed to manage the immune system, and to reduce inflammation that occurs with some conditions that cause nephrotic syndrome. Medications include rituximab, cyclosporine, and cyclophosphamide.
Nephrotic syndrome occurs when you lose more proteins in your urine. It is a chronic condition, which means it has no cure. However, early diagnosis and treatment of nephrotic syndrome allow you to manage its symptoms and prevent kidneys from getting damaged to keep you healthy.
If you need help with nephrotic syndrome, visit our urology clinic in Brooklyn to get professional medical help. Call us to book your appointment now to ensure you get the necessary treatment that keeps your kidneys healthy!!!
At Doral Health and Wellness Urology Center, our team of urologists will work with you in managing your disease and your quality of life. We also offer services, such as renal and bladder ultrasound. To schedule an appointment, please visit us at 1797 Pitkin Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11212 or call 1-347-384-5690. You can also visit our website at https://www.urologistbrooklyn.com/.
