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Glomerulonephritis - Symptom

Alternative Names

Glomerulonephritis - chronic; Chronic nephritis; Glomerular disease; Necrotizing glomerulonephritis; Glomerulonephritis - crescentic; Crescentic glomerulonephritis; Rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis

Symptoms:

Common symptoms of glomerulonephritis are:

  • Blood in the urine (dark, rust-colored, or brown urine)
  • Foamy urine
  • Swelling (edema) of the face, eyes, ankles, feet, legs, or abdomen

Symptoms that may also appear include the following:

Chronic renal failure symptoms may gradually develop.

Other symptoms that may occur with this disease:

Signs and tests:

Because symptoms develop gradually, the disorder may be discovered when there is an abnormal urinalysis during a routine physical or examination for unrelated disorders.

Glomerulonephritis can cause high blood pressure. It may only be discovered as a cause of high blood pressure that is difficult to control.

Laboratory tests may reveal anemia or show signs of reduced kidney functioning. A kidney biopsy confirms the diagnosis.

Later, signs of chronic kidney failure may be seen, including swelling (edema), polyneuropathy, and signs of fluid overload, including abnormal heart and lung sounds.

Imaging tests that may be done include:

Urinalysis and other urine tests include:

This disease may also affect the results of the following blood tests:

  • Reviewed last on: 8/12/2009
  • Parul Patel, MD, Private Practice specializing in Nephrology and Kidney and Pancreas Transplantation, California Pacific Medical Center, San Francisco, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Nachman PH, Jennette JC, Falk RJ. Primary glomerular disease. In: Brenner BM, ed. Brenner and Rector's The Kidney. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa:Saunders Elsevier;2007:chap 30.

Haymart MR, Atta MG. Glomerular disease. In: Nilsson KR Jr., Piccini JP. The Osler Medical Handbook. 2nd ed. Philadelphia Pa: Saunders Elsevier;2006:chap 65.

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