Can people with nephrotic syndrome eat strawberries?

Written by Zhou Qi
Nephrology
Updated on January 04, 2025
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Patients with nephrotic syndrome can eat strawberries in moderate amounts. Patients with nephrotic syndrome typically have urinary protein levels exceeding 3.5g in 24 hours, along with noticeable symptoms of edema. It is essential for these patients to control their intake of water, especially those with severe edema, as excessive water intake can further exacerbate the swelling. Additionally, patients should limit their intake of plant proteins, follow a low-salt diet, and avoid heavy consumption of oils and fatty foods. From the above perspectives, it is generally acceptable for patients with nephrotic syndrome to eat strawberries in moderation. Strawberries contain very little plant protein and will not increase urinary protein levels. Although strawberries do not contain much salt, patients with nephrotic syndrome still need to consume them in moderation due to their high water content.

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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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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 Hu Lin
Nephrology
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Do you take steroids for nephrotic syndrome?

Once nephrotic syndrome is diagnosed, corticosteroid therapy becomes a primary treatment, and the commonly used steroid is prednisone. If there is liver damage or the treatment effect of prednisone is not good, oral prednisolone or intravenous methylprednisolone can be used. Due to its long half-life and severe side effects, dexamethasone is now generally less used. The course of treatment with corticosteroids for nephrotic syndrome is relatively long, needing about one to one and a half years. During this process, the use of steroids has three phases: the initial full-dose phase, during which a relatively large dose of the hormone is used for about two to three months; the second phase is a slow reduction process; the third phase is a low-dose maintenance process. Overall, during the use of steroids, patients must regularly follow up at outpatient clinics, and adjust the steroids according to the doctor's advice. One must not arbitrarily reduce the dose or stop the medication, as this can easily lead to a relapse of nephrotic syndrome.

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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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Syndrome of kidney disease with manifestations of calcium deficiency

In the state of nephrotic syndrome, if there is a calcium deficiency, it may cause the patient's limbs to twitch, especially sudden twitches and pain in both lower limbs during sleep at night, waking the patient from sleep. If calcium deficiency persists for a long time, it may lead to osteoporosis in the patient, such as osteoporosis of the femoral head, which presents with hip pain, and necrosis of the femoral head, potentially affecting the patient's ability to walk. In children, calcium deficiency may cause night-time convulsions, and external manifestations such as hunchback, pigeon chest, and square skull might appear.