Nephrotic Syndrome Causes & Risks

Causes

Nephrotic syndrome is caused by damage to tiny filters in the kidneys, called glomeruli. The glomeruli filter waste and excess water from the blood forming urine, which reaches the bladder via the ureters. Diseases that damage the glomeruli cause nephrotic syndrome.

Diseases that may lead to nephrotic syndrome include:

• Glomerulonephritis (inflammation of the glomeruli from infection or other causes)
• Diabetic nephropathy (kidney complications from long-standing diabetes)
• Membranous nephropathy
• Renal amyloidosis (abnormal protein deposits in the kidneys)
• Minimal change disease—This usually occurs in children when nephrotic syndrome occurs, despite little or no change to the structure of glomeruli or surrounding tissue upon examination.
• Other diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus , certain infections, toxins, allergic reactions, sickle cell disease , renal vein thrombosis, some types of cancer, and other diseases

Risk Factors

The following factors increase your chance of developing nephrotic syndrome. If you have any of these risk factors, tell your doctor.

• Kidney disease
• Diabetes
• Lupus