Manifestations of recovery from nephrotic syndrome

Written by Zhou Qi
Nephrology
Updated on February 22, 2025
00:00
00:00

In principle, there is no concept of complete recovery for nephrotic syndrome. The condition of nephrotic syndrome can be alleviated and controlled to the greatest extent, but it cannot be completely cured. When the condition is alleviated, the patient's glomerular filtration barrier is repaired, resulting in a reduction in proteinuria and a decrease in urinary foam clinically. Once the patient's urinary protein decreases, the plasma protein concentration will gradually increase. Thus, water moves back from outside to inside the blood vessels, leading to a reduction in edema. These clinical signs all indicate an improvement in the condition of nephrotic syndrome. Of course, to assess the condition, it is still necessary to rely on the patient undergoing a 24-hour quantitative urine protein test.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Wu Ji
Nephrology
57sec home-news-image

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.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Niu Yan Lin
Nephrology
42sec home-news-image

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.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhou Qi
Nephrology
57sec home-news-image

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.)

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhou Qi
Nephrology
40sec home-news-image

Can nephrotic syndrome be clinically cured?

Nephrotic syndrome, a disease that clinically cannot be completely cured, is a chronic illness with no concept of cure. However, with appropriate treatment plans, many patients can achieve effective relief. There are two criteria for judging treatment effectiveness: first, the patient's 24-hour urinary protein quantification is controlled below 0.5 grams, and even can be controlled below 0.3 grams. Second, the patient's 24-hour urinary protein quantification is reduced by more than half compared to the baseline value. Both scenarios indicate effective treatment, but achieving a complete cure is difficult.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Liu Sheng
Nephrology
1min 10sec home-news-image

Conditions for discontinuing medication for nephrotic syndrome

The main clinical manifestations of nephrotic syndrome are significant proteinuria and hypoproteinemia, along with varying degrees of hyperlipidemia and edema. Nephrotic syndrome often requires treatment with corticosteroids. The general principle for using steroids is to start with a sufficient dosage and administer it slowly, maintaining it for a long duration, approximately around one year. Therefore, the conditions for discontinuing medication in nephrotic syndrome include: if the patient has been treated with steroids for about a year, and the proteinuria has resolved, 24-hour urinary protein quantification is normal, there is no edema, blood albumin levels have returned to normal, and kidney function is also normal, then discontinuation of steroid treatment can be considered. Of course, after stopping the medication, it is essential to regularly visit the hospital for monitoring of routine urine tests, kidney function, and blood pressure to prevent the recurrence of nephrotic syndrome due to infections or fatigue.