Glomerular Disease Symptoms & Diagnosis

Symptoms

Glomerulonephritis sometimes causes no symptoms and is discovered during a routine urine test. When present, the symptoms of acute and chronic glomerulonephritis differ from one another.

The symptoms of acute glomerulonephritis may include:

• Blood in urine (red, brown, or tea-colored urine)
• Foamy appearance of urine
• Less frequent urination
• Swelling in the morning, especially in the face, feet, hands, and abdomen

Chronic glomerulonephritis can lead to kidney failure, which may cause these symptoms:

• Feeling tired
• Dry, itchy skin
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Poor appetite
• Muscle cramps at night
• Swelling of the face, feet, hands, or abdomen

Diagnosis

Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history, and perform a physical exam. You may be referred to a doctor who specializes in kidney disease for further diagnostic testing and treatment (nephrologist).

Tests may include:

• Urinalysis—test to look for blood, protein, bacteria, and other evidence of kidney damage in the urine
• Blood tests—tests to check how well the kidneys are functioning and to look for medical conditions that may be causing glomerulonephritis
• Ultrasound —a test that uses sound waves to create images of the kidneys
• Abdominal CT scan —a type of x-ray test that uses a computer to create detailed images of the structures inside the abdomen, including the kidneys
• Kidney biopsy —removal of a sample of kidney tissue with a needle to test for glomerulonephritis