MOST COMMON CAUSE OF PRIMARY NEPHROTIC SYNDROME IN ADULTS:

Nephrotic Syndrome- a group of symptoms including protein in the urine (more than 3.5 grams per day),
low blood protein levels, high cholesterol levels, high triglyceride levels, and swelling.

It is caused by various disorders that damage the kidneys, particularly the basement membrane of the
glomerulus. This immediately causes abnormal excretion of protein in the urine.

Syptoms:

Swelling (edema) is the most common symptom. It may occur:

 In the face and around the eyes (facial swelling)

 In the arms and legs, especially in the feet and ankles
 In the belly area (swollen abdomen)

Other symptoms include:

 Foamy appearance of the urine

 Weight gain (unintentional) from fluid retention
 Poor appetite
 High blood pressure

Causes

- focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS)

o scar tissue that forms in parts of the kidney called glomeruli
o The cause of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis is usually unknown. A small number of
cases result from reflux nephropathy. The condition affects both children and adults. Men
and boys are affected slightly more often than women and girls, and it also occurs more
frequently in African-Americans. There are also rare, inherited forms of focal segmental
glomerulosclerosis.
o Symptoms:
 Foamy urine
 Poor appetite
 Swelling of the body, called generalized edema, from retained fluids
 Weight gain
o
- membranous nephropathy (MN) like membranous glomerulonephritis
o a kidney disorder which involves changes and inflammation of the structures inside the
kidney that help filter waste and fluids. The inflammation leads to problems with kidney
function.
o caused by thickening of part of the glomerular basement membrane.