Acute Nephritic Syndrome

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Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors

Acute nephritic syndrome is the result of inflammation of the internal structures of the kidney, often caused by an immune response triggered by infection (typified by acute post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis) or other disease.

Causative diseases seen more frequently in children and adolescents include the following:

• IgA nephropathy
• Henoch-Schonlein purpura
• Hemolytic uremic syndrome
• Post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis

Associated diseases generally seen more frequently in adults:

• SLE; lupus nephritis
• Membranoproliferative GN I
• Membranoproliferative GN II
• Infective endocarditis
• Vasculitis
• Rapidly progressive (crescentic) glomerulonephritis
• Goodpasture's syndrome
• Klebsiella pneumonia
• Abdominal abscesses
• Viral diseases such as mononucleosis, measles, mumps
• Typhoid fever
• Hepatitis
• Syphilis and other sexually transmitted diseases

Inflammation disrupts the functioning of the glomerulus, which is the part of the kidney that controls filtering and excretion. Inefficient glomerular functioning results in the loss of blood and protein in the urine and the accumulation of excess fluid in the body. Swelling results when protein is lost from the blood stream. (Protein maintains fluid within the blood vessels, and when it is lost the fluid collects in the tissues of the body).

Urine discoloration results from blood in the urine. This occurs because of loss of blood within the damaged glomeruli.

Acute nephritic syndrome may be associated with the development of hypertension, interstitial inflammation (inflammation of the spaces between the cells of the kidney tissue), and acute renal failure.