Is nephrotic syndrome contagious?

Written by Zhou Qi
Nephrology
Updated on September 14, 2024
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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 Zhang Hui
Nephrology
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Kidney disease syndrome is classified as what disease?

Nephrotic syndrome is a clinical subtype of chronic kidney disease. It can be diagnosed when there is significant proteinuria, hypoalbuminemia, accompanied by edema and hyperlipidemia. This represents a severe stage in the progression of kidney diseases, generally requiring treatment with steroids and immunosuppressants. Nephrotic syndrome may have complications such as thrombosis, infections, hyperlipidemia, and acute renal failure.

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Written by Zhou Qi
Nephrology
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Does nephrotic syndrome cause itchy skin?

Nephrotic syndrome generally does not cause itchy skin in patients. In patients with nephrotic syndrome, the glomerular filtration barrier is severely damaged, leading to a significant presence of urinary protein and edema, but itchy skin is a rare clinical symptom. If a patient experiences itchy skin, it is recommended to visit the dermatology department of a standard hospital. As such patients may have a disordered immune system, they are prone to various skin issues, such as allergic dermatitis and eczema, which might cause symptoms of itchy skin. However, these are not directly related to nephrotic syndrome.

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Written by Niu Yan Lin
Nephrology
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Does nephrotic syndrome require a puncture?

Nephrotic syndrome is a complex of clinical symptoms with various causes, which differ by age group. In children or adolescents, if it presents solely as significant proteinuria without elevated creatinine or hematuria, it is generally caused by minimal change disease. Since this type of kidney disease is sensitive to hormone treatment, it is usually possible to forego renal biopsy and start with corticosteroid therapy. For other nephrotic syndrome patients, it is advisable to first perform a renal biopsy to identify the pathological cause before considering appropriate treatment with hormones, immunosuppressants, and other medications.

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Written by Zhou Qi
Nephrology
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Characteristics of Nephrotic Syndrome

The characteristic feature of nephrotic syndrome is that patients may experience edema, which is related to the nature of this disease. The essence of this disease is due to some reason that damages the glomerular capillary filtration barrier. As a result, when blood passes through the glomeruli, it leaks proteins from the blood. A 24-hour urinary protein quantification will exceed 3.5 grams, which constitutes a large amount of urinary protein. Consequently, a large amount of protein is leaked into the urine, causing the protein concentration in the plasma to decrease. This leads to a reduction in the colloidal osmotic pressure of the plasma, causing fluid to move from inside the blood vessels to outside, thus leading to edema. Therefore, the most significant clinical feature of nephrotic syndrome is the potential to cause edema, and severe cases of edema may elevate blood pressure, lead to pulmonary edema, manifesting as difficulty breathing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath.

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Written by Zhou Qi
Nephrology
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How is nephrotic syndrome diagnosed?

Nephrotic syndrome is a general term for a group of clinical symptoms. Its primary diagnostic criteria include a 24-hour urine protein quantification of greater than or equal to 3.5 grams and plasma albumin less than or equal to 30 grams per liter; these two criteria are essential for the diagnosis of nephrotic syndrome. Meeting these criteria is sufficient for the diagnosis. There are also two additional supporting diagnostic criteria for nephrotic syndrome, which include possible symptoms of edema and hyperlipidemia. These four elements are the main clinical manifestations and diagnostic criteria of nephrotic syndrome.