aetiology
Last reviewed 01/2018
A number of the glomerulonephritides may present with nephrotic syndrome including:
- minimal change glomerulonephritis
- membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis
- membranous glomerulonephritis
- focal segmental glomerulosclerosis
Other causes include:
- systemic lupus erythematosis
- Henoch-Schonlein purpura
- diabetic glomerulosclerosis
- amyloidosis
- allergic reactions to a wide range of allergens
- drugs and metals including:
- gold
- mercury
- cadmium
- captopril
- penicillamine
- analgesics and NSAID's including phenacetin, aspirin and paracetamol
- congenital nephrotic syndrome
With few exceptions, the causes of nephrotic syndrome are identical in children and adults; however, the relative frequencies of the different aetiologies vary considerably with important consequences for management and biopsy - see aetiology of nephrotic syndrome in children, aetiology of nephrotic syndrome in adults, and investigations.