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Zhou Qi
Nephrology
About me
An associate chief physician in the Nephrology Department of the People's Hospital of Ma'anshan City, with a Master's degree from a key medical university. Participated or led multiple projects funded by the Natural Science Foundation, and published nearly ten papers in Chinese and core journals.
Proficient in diseases
Glomerular diseases, diabetic nephropathy, lupus nephritis, blood purification.
Voices
Symptoms of Acute Nephritis
Acute nephritis may present with some clinical symptoms. The main characteristics are that patients may have hematuria and proteinuria. When there is a significant amount of blood in the urine, it can be detected by the naked eye, known as gross hematuria. For instance, the color of the patient's urine could be dark like strong tea or bright red. Patients might also experience increased urine foam due to the presence of proteins in the urine, especially in cases where there is a significant presence of urinary proteins. A minority of patients may experience acute renal failure, often characterized by reduced urine output, or even anuria. Due to the reduced urine output, the water intake of patients cannot be fully excreted, leading to edema. Patients may experience swelling of the facial and bilateral lower limbs or even the whole body.
How to treat anemia in nephrotic syndrome?
Patients with nephrotic syndrome often do not suffer from anemia. However, if a patient has severe chronic renal failure, renal anemia may occur. Generally, renal anemia occurs when the patient's blood creatinine level exceeds 256 micromoles/liter. Treatment mainly involves the use of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents and iron supplements. If the patient does not have obvious renal failure but exhibits anemia, it is important to investigate the cause. This could include gastrointestinal bleeding, the presence of systemic diseases, or even hematological disorders. For example, lupus nephritis can cause both nephrotic syndrome and anemia. In such cases, high-dose steroids and immunosuppressants may be required as a treatment to fundamentally address the issue.
How long will it take for nephrotic syndrome to get better?
Most cases of nephrotic syndrome are primary nephrotic syndrome, which refers to the absence of specific causes and may be related to immune dysfunction. The disordered immune system attacks the glomerular capillaries causing damage to the filtration barrier, resulting in the patient excreting large amounts of urinary protein. For primary nephrotic syndrome, treatment generally involves the use of corticosteroids or a combination of hormones and immunosuppressants. About 50-60% of patients respond effectively to the medication, which typically takes about two months to take effect. Patients who respond quickly might see effects within one to two weeks, while those with less sensitivity to the medication may need three to four months. The general course of medication is about one year.
What are the symptoms of hydronephrosis?
Patients with hydronephrosis may not exhibit any symptoms. Whether symptoms are present depends on factors such as the extent of renal damage caused by hydronephrosis, the severity of the hydronephrosis, and the duration of hydronephrosis. Some patients might only notice the issue due to a lump in the abdomen or a swelling sensation in the lower back, prompting them to undergo ultrasound imaging that reveals hydronephrosis. Hydronephrosis can cause renal colic, and patients may also experience nausea, vomiting, and reduced urine output. When hydronephrosis is complicated by infection, symptoms like chills, shivering, fever, and headache can occur. Some patients may first present clinically with a urinary tract infection, showing symptoms like fever, frequent urination, urgent urination, and painful urination. In rare cases, hydronephrosis can rupture and lead to bleeding.
Why does chronic renal failure cause vomiting?
Patients with chronic renal failure who experience vomiting generally indicates that their condition has become very severe. Typically, from stage four of chronic kidney disease onwards, a large amount of metabolic waste accumulates in the body, and patients may have severe metabolic acidosis, among other issues. These conditions can cause edema of the gastrointestinal mucosa, and these metabolic wastes can also irritate the gastrointestinal tract, leading to symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite. Of course, besides these reasons, other gastrointestinal diseases such as chronic gastritis, gastric ulcers, and even gastric cancer should also be ruled out.