Chronic glomerulonephritis

Chronic glomerulonephritis, short for chronic nephritis, is a group of primary glomerular diseases with various causes and pathologic types. It is characterized by long slow course, variable symptoms, often an asymptomatic abnormal urinalysis phase, then varying edema, proteinuria, microscopic hematuria, with or without hypertension or azotemia, and progressive renal damage.

Common Symptoms

Persistent urine protein; bacterial infection; hematuria; anorexia; raised ESR; urine protein; low plasma albumin; enlarged tongue

Causes

Immune deficiency lowers resistance to infection; the body cannot make enough antibodies to clear antigens, which persist and form immune complexes depositing in kidney, causing chronic inflammation. There is often a prior upper respiratory or other infection; a few derive from acute post-streptococcal GN, but most do not, developing directly from other primary GN. Mechanism: most are immune-complex diseases, either circulating soluble complexes depositing in glomeruli or in situ complexes activating complement; local bacterial toxins activate complement via the alternative pathway. Non-immune damage also matters: ① intarenal arteriosclerosis from glomerular lesions worsens ischemia; ② compensatory hemodynamic changes cause hyperfiltration and sclerosis of surviving nephrons; ③ hypertensive arteriolosclerosis accelerates glomerular sclerosis; ④ mesangial overload causes matrix proliferation and sclerosis. In sum, long-standing disease destroys glomerular capillaries, proliferates mesangial matrix and fibrous tissue, causing global glomerular fibrosis, hyalinization, tubular atrophy, interstitial infiltration and fibrosis, finally an end-stage contracted kidney.

Treatment

Medication, supportive treatment

Prevention

Once diagnosed, actively treat to prevent progressive deterioration and delay renal replacement. ① Avoid infection and fatigue. ② Control diet and ensure nutrition. ③ Control and treat complications. ④ Use nephrotoxic drugs cautiously. ⑤ Use TCM based on syndrome differentiation to improve and delay renal failure.

Recommended Department

It is recommended to visit the nephrology department; before the visit you may first book an appointment and connect with experts through this platform.

Warm reminder: The above information is provided for health education reference only and cannot replace professional medical diagnosis. If you have related symptoms, please seek care at a regular hospital in time.