Nephrotic Syndrome | Riley Children's Health

Childhood nephrotic syndrome is not a specific condition but rather a group of symptoms that indicate kidney damage, particularly to the glomeruli (tiny filters in the kidneys that clean the blood).

Symptoms related to childhood nephrotic syndrome that indicate kidney damage include:

Edema (swelling in the legs, feet or ankles caused by excess fluid in the body)
Proteinuria (large amounts of protein in the urine)
Hypoalbuminemia (low levels of protein in the blood)

Some patients may also have hematuria (blood in the urine) and develop high blood pressure.

Diagnosis of Nephrotic Syndrome

If your child has symptoms of nephrotic syndrome, his or her doctor may use the following exams and tests to help make a diagnosis:

Medical history. The doctor will ask for your child's complete medical history, including information about your family's medical history.
Physical exam. The doctor will perform a physical exam to look for signs and symptoms of the condition.
Urinalysis. The doctor may perform a urinalysis to analyze the urine for signs of the condition, such as a high level of protein.
Blood test.The doctor may perform a blood test to analyze the blood for signs of the condition, such as low levels of the protein albumin and decreased levels of overall blood protein. Your child's doctor may also test cholesterol levels in the blood, which can be high with nephrotic syndrome. In some circumstances, your child's doctor may also test for conditions that cause secondary nephrotic syndrome.
Renal ultrasound. The doctor may perform an ultrasound of the kidney to look for structural abnormalities or blockages.
Renal biopsy. The doctor may perform a renal biopsy to determine the cause of your child's symptoms.

Treatments

Treatment for childhood nephrotic syndrome includes:

Medicines. Childhood nephrotic syndrome is treated with a combination of specialized medicines that include:
- Immunosuppressants. Medicines that suppress the immune system, such as prednisone, are used to decrease the inflammation that accompanies certain kidney disorders.
- Diuretics. Diuretics (water pills) help control swelling by increasing the kidneys’ fluid output.
- High blood pressure medicine. Blood pressure medications reduce blood pressure and the amount of protein released into the urine.
Limiting salt and fluid intake. Both extra salt and water intake can make swelling worse when there is a large amount of protein being lost in the urine. By limiting salt and water (or any other liquid) intake, the swelling can be controlled to some extent. Your child's doctor will tell you the exact amount of salt and fluid intake your child should have when he or she has a large amount of protein in the urine. Once your child has recovered from the illness, he or she will be able to resume regular intake of fluid and salt.

Key Points to Remember

Childhood nephrotic syndrome is not a specific condition but rather a group of symptoms that indicate kidney damage.
Symptoms related to childhood nephrotic syndrome that can indicate kidney damage include edema, proteinuria and hypoalbuminemia.
Childhood nephrotic syndrome may be treated with a combination of specialized medicines and/or through limiting salt and fluid intake.

Support Services & Resources

Visit the trusted websites below to learn more about nephrotic syndrome.

Riley at IU Health offers a broad range of supportive services to make life better for families who choose us for their children's care.

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National Kidney Foundation

Visit this website to learn more about childhood nephrotic syndrome, including its causes and treatments.

Locations

In addition to our primary hospital location at the Academic Health Center in Indianapolis, IN, we have convenient locations to better serve our communities throughout the state.

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Departments Treating This Condition

Nephrology & Kidney Diseases