complications
Last reviewed 02/2022
The complications of nephrotic syndrome include:
- renal vein thrombosis
- arterial thrombosis
- infection:
- patients with nephrotic syndrome are prone to infection with all organisms but especially pneumococcus, particularly pneumococcal peritonitis
- susceptibility due to loss of IgG and alternative pathway complement components in the urine
- any infection should be treated early with intravenous broad spectrum bactericidal antibiotics
- hypovolaemic shock and acute renal failure, with signs of severe renal hypoperfusion leading to temporary oliguria and increasing uraemia:
- management involves volume replacement followed by diuretics
- there is a strong case for the administration of antibiotics to cover the possibility that the hypoperfusion may be a result of septicaemia
- a few patients may deteriorate and require dialysis
- iron deficiency due to loss of transferrin and iron
- muscle wasting
- accelerated atherosclerosis