Nephrotic Syndrome
Nephrotic syndrome is a condition where there is kidney damage which leads to the loss of large amounts of protein in the urine. The loss of protein means that fluid leaks from the capillaries (because there isn't any protein to keep it in) into the tissues, causing swelling, initially of the feet and the face, and then of the limbs and the abdomen. The usual underlying cause is damage to the glomeruli as a result of glomerulonephritis, though why this occurs is unknown. Rarely it happens in association with other inflammatory conditions such as a vasculitis (inflammation of blood vessels) - typically Henoch-Schonlein Purpura (described in blood and circulation in the chest cavity section). Most cases will respond to treatment with steroids, and kidney function will return to normal, but steroid resistant cases may progress to renal failure.
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