Symptoms of glomerulonephritis
By destroying the filter system, components of the blood composition are now filtered which do not enter the urine in the case of healthy kidney function. These include:
- Blood (hematuria)
- Proteins (proteinuria) and
- Cylinder (cylindricity).
The breakdown product of the muscle metabolism creatinine, which is used as a functional marker for the filter function, is increased in the blood. Some patients still show high blood pressure (hypertensionThe symptom complex of protein loss via the urine, too little protein in the blood (hypoproteinemia), increased blood lipids with excretion of fats with the urine (hyperlipidemia with lipiduria), water retention (edema) and the tendency to form blood clots (hypercoagulability) is called nephrotic syndrome.
This syndrome often manifests itself in glomerulonephritis. Other symptoms of glomerulonephritis can be signs of inflammation such as elevated temperature and altered blood parameters. These include, for example:
- The proliferation of defense cells (leukocytosis)
- Proliferation of acute-phase proteins (proteins that increase their initial concentration by more than 25 % during an inflammation, e.g. the CRP value)
- Increased sedimentation rate (BSG).
Diagnostics
If glomerulonephritis is suspected, a detailed anamnesis (medical history) must be taken in addition to the physical examination. n the next step, an ultrasound of the kidneys (sonography) is performed in addition to a urine examination and an examination of the blood composition. If the ultrasound image shows kidneys of normal size, this indicates an acute form of the disease.
In a longer, chronic form, the kidneys are reduced in size. In addition to determining the standard laboratory parameters, the blood (or serum) is searched for certain antibodies. Decreased components of the general defence (complement system) can also be an indication of an immunological form. To confirm the diagnosis a sample of kidney tissue (kidney biopsy) can be taken.