Nephrotic Syndrome

Nephrotic Syndrome – General Information

The Nephrotic syndrome is a disorder in which the kidneys are damaged, causing them to leak proteins from the blood into the urine. This disorder is characterized by proteinuria, which is an excess of serum protein in the urine, hypoalbuminemia, which is characterized by an abnormal low levels of albumin in the blood, hyperlipidemia (also known as hyperlipoproteinemia and dyslipidemia), which is characterized by an abnormal level of lipids and/or proteins in the blood, and edema (known as oedema, dropsy and hydropsy) is the increased interstitial fluid in any organ, including the kidneys. The glomeruli of the kidneys are parts that filter the blood. They are formed of capillaries that are fenestrated and that allow slats, fluids and other solutes to flow through, but usually not proteins. In the Nephrotic Syndrome, the glomeruli are damaged because of the inflammation and hyalinization, so that small proteins like immunoglobulins, albumins and anti-thrombin can pass from the kidneys into the urine. The albumin protein found in the blood is responsible for the colloid osmotic pressure and prevents the leakage of blood from the vessels into the tissues. Experiments show that edema formation in the Nephrotic Syndrome is caused by the microvascular damage and intense water and salt retention in the damage kidneys. The retention of the water and salt is due to the increased angiotensin secretion. The liver begins to make more of its proteins in response to the leakage of albumin, which is why the levels of large proteins such as alpha 2-macroglobulin (which is a large plasma protein that is found in the blood) and lipoproteins increase.

Nephrotic Syndrome – Symptoms

It is well known that any medical disorder (including Nephrotic Syndrome) can trigger a variety of symptoms. Therefore, some of this medical condition's most uncommon symptoms have not been listed here. This is why we strongly recommend you to contact your personal health care provider whenever you develop any unusual, bothersome or unpleasant symptoms. Your personal physician will be able to tell you if you are suffering from Nephrotic Syndrome or from any other medical disorder.
The Nephrotic Syndrome is characterized by proteinuria, hypoalbuminemia, hyperlipidemia and edema. Other characteristics are listed below:

• The excess of fluid in the body, which is the primary sign. This excess can take a few forms such as:
• Puffiness around the eyes, especially in the mornings
• Edema in the legs which is pitting (meaning that if the fluid is pressed out it leaves a pit on the leg, which will resolve in a few seconds)
• Pleural effusion -  meaning that the patients have fluid in the pleural cavity
• Ascites – meaning the patients have fluid in the peritoneal cavity.
• Rarely patients may experience hypertension
• Patients may also notice foamy urine that is caused by the lowering of the surface tension by the severe proteinuria.
• Patients cannot experience hematuria (meaning blood in the urine) or Oliguria (which is the decreased or lack production of urine).
• May have features that underlay causes, like rash associated with SLE (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus), or neuropathy associated with Diabetes.
• Gross edema is not present in this case, especially in the cardiovascular and hepatic system.

Nephrotic Syndrome – Treatment

The scope of the treatment in the case of the Nephrotic Syndrome is to relieve the symptoms, prevent the complications that may appear and delay progressive the kidney damage. The treatment of the underlying causes is necessary, in order to control the Nephrotic Syndrome and there could be required a life-long treatment. Corticosteroid, immunosuppressive, antihypertensive and diuretic drugs may be helpful in controlling the symptoms and antibiotics may help to control the infections that can appear. The angiotensin converting enzyme (also known as ACE) inhibitors (such as enalapril, quinapril, lisinopril) and angiostern II receptor blocker (known as ARB) can reduce the quantity of proteins loss in the urine and are prescribed in the treatment of Nephrotic Syndrome.

If hypertension appears (meaning high blood pressure) it must be quickly and seriously treated. The treatment for high blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels also needs immediate attention in order to reduce the risk of the apparition of atherosclerosis (which is a medical condition in which fatty material collects along the walls of the arteries and it thickens, hardens and finally blocks the arteries). A diet in alimentation in order to limit the consumption of saturated fats and cholesterol will not help very much as this condition is the result of the overproduction by the liver rather than from an excessive fat diet. Your doctor may recommend you medications in order to reduce triglycerides and cholesterol. The patients are recommended to have a moderate-protein diet meaning 1 gram of protein per kilogram of body weight a day and not to consume salt (sodium) in order to control swelling. In case that the Nephrotic Syndrome is chronic or unresponsive to the therapy then vitamin D should be replaced and blood thinners may be required in order to prevent and treat clot formation.
The aims of the homeopathic therapy in treating Nephrotic Syndrome are:

• Reducing the frequency of episodes of this disease
• Reducing the episode’s duration
• Reducing the episode’s severity
• Reducing the steroid addiction, in order for the patients to manage with smaller doses of steroids until they are able to do without them.

Homeopathy has to work with the underlying causes in order for the targets listed above to be achieved. Some of the common medicines used are:

• Lycopodium calvatum – which is prepared from the spores of fungus called club moss and it is deep acting, having a wide sphere of action. It has positive actions on the: nutrition, gastrointestinal system, urinary system, lungs, skin and reproductive system.
• Phosphorus – is prepared by the potenzation of the inorganic phosphorus. This drug acts on the hepato-biliar system, blood, kidneys, lungs, bones, nervous tissue and gastrointestinal tract.
• Eel serum – is prepared from the serum of a fish called eel. And it is especially used in the treatment of the kidneys.
• Apis mellifica – is prepared from the honeybee and it has curative effects on kidneys, skin, bladder, eyes, and throat.