Criteria for the diagnosis of nephrotic syndrome

Written by Wu Ji
Nephrology
Updated on September 27, 2024
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The diagnostic criteria for nephrotic syndrome include massive proteinuria, with urinary protein greater than 3.5 grams/day, hypoalbuminemia, with plasma albumin less than 30 grams/liter, severe edema, and hyperlipidemia, which includes significant increases in plasma cholesterol and triglycerides. The first two criteria are essential for the diagnosis of nephrotic syndrome, while the latter two are secondary. Clinically, if the two necessary criteria are met, the diagnosis of nephrotic syndrome is established. Patients with nephrotic syndrome should undergo a renal biopsy to determine the pathological type and guide clinical treatment.

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Written by Zhang Hui
Nephrology
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What tests are conducted for nephrotic syndrome?

Patients with nephrotic syndrome need to complete routine urine tests, 24-hour urine protein quantification, liver and kidney function tests, routine blood tests, electrolyte panels, blood glucose tests, and lipid profiles. Additionally, it is important to determine the cause of nephrotic syndrome, excluding the possibility of nephrotic syndrome caused by immune system diseases, including tumors, vasculitis, lupus, and other diseases. These tests include rheumatoid immune panels, antinuclear antibody spectrum, anti-GBM antibodies, ANCA panel, and immunoglobulins. Moreover, these patients should undergo kidney ultrasound, tumor marker tests, and thyroid function tests.

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Written by Zhou Qi
Nephrology
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Is nephrotic syndrome contagious?

So, nephrotic syndrome is a general term for a group of clinical symptoms, a state of disease, and is not essentially an independent disease. Thus, this problem is not infectious. This disease describes the damage to the kidneys due to some reason, leading to the disruption of the integrity of the glomerular filtration barrier, resulting in the patient developing a significant amount of urinary protein. The disease itself is not contagious. However, there are very few cases of nephrotic syndrome that might be caused by hepatitis B virus infecting the kidneys. In such cases, the hepatitis B virus may have a certain level of contagiousness, but even so, it does not imply that nephrotic syndrome itself is contagious. In other words, even if such patients transmit hepatitis B to others, it does not necessarily mean those others will exhibit kidney damage.

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Written by Zhou Qi
Nephrology
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Is nephrotic syndrome easy to treat in children?

The diagnostic criteria for nephrotic syndrome are a 24-hour urinary protein quantification exceeding 3.5g and plasma albumin levels below 30g/l. This is due to severe damage to the glomerular capillary network, which has many pathological types since there are various components to the glomerular capillaries, and damage to different components is referred to as different pathological types. Among children, the most common pathological types are minimal change disease and mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis. These two types are relatively easier to treat. Most children are sensitive to steroid medication. However, treatment becomes difficult with other pathological types, such as focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, which shows less sensitivity to steroids. (Medication use should be under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Wu Ji
Nephrology
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What is nephrotic syndrome?

Nephrotic syndrome is a common manifestation of glomerular disease, caused by a variety of etiologies, with large differences in treatment response and prognosis. The pathological causes of nephrotic syndrome are diverse, with the most common types being minimal change disease, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, mesangial proliferative nephritis, membranous nephropathy, and membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis. Nephrotic syndrome can be classified into primary and secondary types based on its cause. The diagnosis of primary nephrotic syndrome mainly depends on the exclusion of secondary nephrotic syndrome. Common causes of secondary nephrotic syndrome include diabetic nephropathy, lupus nephritis, renal amyloidosis, drug-induced nephropathy, and renal tumors.

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Written by Wu Ji
Nephrology
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Criteria for the diagnosis of nephrotic syndrome

The diagnostic criteria for nephrotic syndrome include massive proteinuria, with urinary protein greater than 3.5 grams/day, hypoalbuminemia, with plasma albumin less than 30 grams/liter, severe edema, and hyperlipidemia, which includes significant increases in plasma cholesterol and triglycerides. The first two criteria are essential for the diagnosis of nephrotic syndrome, while the latter two are secondary. Clinically, if the two necessary criteria are met, the diagnosis of nephrotic syndrome is established. Patients with nephrotic syndrome should undergo a renal biopsy to determine the pathological type and guide clinical treatment.