Glomerulonephritis Specialist
Southland Renal Medical Group
Nephrologists located in the Greater Long Beach and Orange County, CA Area
Like other types of chronic kidney disease (CKD), glomerulonephritis causes progressive kidney damage that eventually leads to kidney failure. The doctors at Southland Renal Medical Group specialize in kidney failure, helping each patient maintain optimal health and slow down kidney damage, while also providing exceptional dialysis treatment and performing kidney transplants when needed. To get the highest quality of care for your kidney disease, call one of the kidney treatment centers in Long Beach, Downey, Fountain Valley, or Los Alamitos, California, or schedule an appointment online today.
Glomerulonephritis Q & A
What is glomerulonephritis?
Glomerulonephritis is inflammation of the glomeruli, which are tiny structures in your kidneys that filter blood. As blood from your body flows through the glomeruli, they remove toxic wastes, eliminate excess water, and get rid of excessive amounts of electrolytes like calcium, sodium, and potassium. The wastes go into your urine and the clean blood goes back into circulation.
These are a few examples of the conditions that may cause glomerulonephritis:
- Poststreptococcal infection: Antibodies produced to fight strep settle in the kidneys and cause inflammation
- Bacterial endocarditis: Bacteria responsible for a heart infection spread through the bloodstream
- Viral infections: HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C may cause glomerulonephritis
- Lupus: A chronic inflammatory disease that affects multiple parts of the body
- IgA nephropathy: Glomerular disease caused by deposits of the antibody IgA
Several types of vasculitis, or blood vessel infections, can also develop in the glomeruli.
What are the symptoms of glomerulonephritis?
Your symptoms depend on whether you have acute or chronic glomerulonephritis:
Acute symptoms
Acute glomerulonephritis develops suddenly, often after a strep infection of you throat or skin. This acute inflammation may get better on its own or quickly worsen, leading to kidney failure if you don’t get treatment. Symptoms include:
- Puffy face in the morning
- Blood in your urine (hematuria) or brown urine
- Urinating less than usual
You may also feel short of breath or have a cough.
Chronic symptoms
When you have chronic glomerulonephritis, the disease develops slowly over several years. The earliest symptoms include:
- Swelling of your ankles or face
- Blood in your urine
- Frequently urinating at night
- Bubbly or foamy urine
The ongoing inflammation causes progressive damage to the glomeruli, ultimately leading to kidney failure.
How is glomerulonephritis treated?
If you’re diagnosed with glomerulonephritis, you’ll get the highest quality of care from the experienced doctors at Southland Renal Medical Group. As specialists in kidney disease, they know how to slow down your progression to kidney failure.
Their expertise is essential because chronic kidney disease can’t be cured and there are few treatments for glomerulonephritis. You’ll also be able to depend on their ongoing care when you reach kidney failure and need dialysis or a kidney transplant.
For expert glomerulonephritis care, call Southland Renal Medical Group or schedule an appointment online today.