Chronic glomerulonephritis

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Kidney anatomy

Glomerulonephritis - chronic; Chronic nephritis

• Blood in the urine (dark, rust-colored, or brown urine)
• Foamy urine

Chronic kidney failure symptoms that gradually develop may include the following:

• Unintentional weight loss
• Nausea and vomiting
• General ill feeling (malaise)
• Fatigue
• Headache
• Frequent hiccups
• Generalized itching
• Decreased urine output
• Need to urinate at night
• Easy bruising or bleeding
• Decreased alertness
  • Drowsiness , somnolence , lethargy
  • Confusion , delirium
  • Coma
• Muscle twitching
• Muscle cramps
• Seizures
• Increased skin pigmentation -- skin may appear yellow or brown
• Decreased sensation in the hands, feet, or other areas

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Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease:

• Excessive urination
• Nosebleed
• High blood pressure
• Blood in the vomit or stools

There may be high blood pressure and a urinalysis may be abnormal. Laboratory tests may reveal anemia or indicate reduced kidney functioning, including azotemia (accumulation of nitrogenous wastes such as creatinine and urea). Later, signs of chronic kidney failure may be apparent, including edema (swelling), polyneuropathy, and signs of fluid overload including abnormal heart and lung sounds.

• A urinalysis may show blood, casts, protein, or some other abnormality.
• Kidney or abdominal ultrasound, kidney or abdominal CT scan, or IVP may show small kidneys.
• A chest x-ray may show fluid overload.
• A kidney biopsy may show one of the forms of chronic glomerulonephritis or scarring of the glomeruli.

This disease may also alter the results of the following tests:

• Urine specific gravity
• Urine concentration test
• Uric acid, urine
• Total protein
• Renal scan
• Urine RBC
• Urine protein
• Creatinine clearance
• Urine creatinine
• Complement component 3
• Complement
• BUN
• Anti-glomerular basement membrane
• Albumin
• Abdominal MRI

Review Date: 09/13/2005
Reviewed By: Robert Mushnick, M.D., Clinical Assistant Professor, SUNY Downstate Health Center, Brooklyn, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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