Author: Dr Sharon Kang University of California San Francisco 2008-05-28
Introduction
A serious complication of kidney disease, the
nephrotic syndrome is a specific collection of signs and symptoms caused
by the loss of large amounts of protein from the blood into the urine
(more than 3.5 grams per day). The syndrome can occur in infants,
children, and adults, as well as in all racial and ethnic groups. Some
patients with the nephrotic syndrome are at high risk for end-stage
kidney failure. Once a kidney fails, survival is dependent upon either
dialysis or a kidney transplant.