Glomerulonephritis

Glomerulonephritis is a kidney disease. The kidneys' filters become inflamed and scarred and slowly lose their ability to remove wastes and excess water from the blood to make urine. Kidney disease of diabetes, IgA nephropathy, and lupus nephritis are some types of glomerulonephritis.

Symptoms and signs of this disease are:

• Fatigue.
• High blood pressure.
• Swelling, especially noticeable in the face, hands, feet, and ankles.
• Blood and protein in the urine.

Unfortunately, the kidneys can be severely damaged before symptoms and signs appear.

Kidney disease cannot be cured. Treatments focus on slowing the progression of the disease and preventing complications. Drugs called ACE (angiotensin converting enzymes) inhibitors have a special protective effect on the kidneys in diabetic patients and lower high blood pressure, which damages the kidneys. Some patients may benefit from limiting protein in their diet to reduce the build-up of wastes in the blood. Sodium and potassium also may be limited. After about 10 years, the disease may progress to kidney failure, when the patient will need dialysis or a kidney transplant.

Each year, Medical College of Wisconsin physicians care for more than 180,000 patients, representing nearly 500,000 patient visits. Medical College physicians practice at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital, the Milwaukee VA Medical Center, and many other hospitals and clinics in Milwaukee and southeastern Wisconsin.