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Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis

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Definition:

Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis is scar tissue that forms in areas of the kidney that filter certain things out of the body. These areas are called glomeruli. The help the body get rid of harmful or unnecessary substances. Each kidney has thousands of glomeruli.

"Focal" means that some of the glomeruli become scarred, while others remain normal. "Segmental" means that only part of an individual glomerulus is damaged.

Alternative Names:

Segmental glomerulosclerosis; Focal sclerosis with hyalinosis

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

The cause of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis is usually unknown. A small number of cases result from reflux nephropathy . The condition affects both children and adults. Males are affected slightly more often than females, and it also occurs more frequently in African Americans.

Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis causes about 10 - 15% of all cases of nephrotic syndrome .

• Review Date: 5/15/2007
• Reviewed By: Robert Mushnick, M.D., Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Nephrology, SUNY Downstate Health Center, Brooklyn, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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