Nephrotic Syndrome: Pathophysiology and Consequences
Overview
Authors
Affiliations
In patients with kidney disease, nephrotic syndrome can lead to several complications including progressive kidney dysfunction. Proteinuria may lead to the formation of cellular or fibrous crescents with reciprocal development of rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis or focal glomerulosclerosis. Proteinuria may also cause overload and dysfunction of tubular epithelial cells, eventually resulting in tubular atrophy and interstitial fibrosis. Hypoalbuminemia is usually associated with increased risk of mortality and kidney dysfunction. Dyslipidemia may increase the risk of atherosclerotic complications, cause podocyte dysfunction and contribute to vascular thrombosis. Urinary loss of anticoagulants and overproduction of coagulation factors may facilitate a hypercoagulable state. Edema, hypogammaglobulinemia, loss of complement factors, and immunosuppressive therapy can favor infection. Treatment of these complications may reduce their impact on the severity of NS. Nephrotic syndrome is a kidney disorder that can worsen the quality of life and increase the risk of kidney disease progression.
The global burden of chronic kidney disease due to glomerulonephritis: trends and predictions.
Wang X, Liu Z, Yi N, Li L, Ma L, Yuan L Int Urol Nephrol. 2025; .
PMID: 40045051 DOI: 10.1007/s11255-025-04440-2.
Ponticelli C J Clin Med. 2025; 14(3).
PMID: 39941432 PMC: 11818350. DOI: 10.3390/jcm14030761.
The Impact of Glomerular Disease on Dyslipidemia in Pediatric Patients Treated with Dialysis.
Zitnik E, Streja E, Laster M Nutrients. 2025; 17(3).
PMID: 39940317 PMC: 11819668. DOI: 10.3390/nu17030459.
Lin Z, Yeh M, Liang P, Huang C, Huang J, Dai C Kaohsiung J Med Sci. 2024; 41(2):e12925.
PMID: 39739853 PMC: 11827540. DOI: 10.1002/kjm2.12925.
Alazem E, El-Saiedi S, Chitrakar S, Othman S Ital J Pediatr. 2024; 50(1):214.
PMID: 39396026 PMC: 11470724. DOI: 10.1186/s13052-024-01775-x.