Patient's question:
Patient Gender: Zhang JinlaiDescription of Symptoms: I was diagnosed with nephrotic syndrome at Jining People's Hospital and treated for one month, which cured it. However, it has recurred several times. What could be the reason, and what should I pay attention to in daily life?
Doctor's answer:
Nephrotic syndrome is a clinical syndrome characterized by massive proteinuria (proteinuria exceeding 3.5 grams per 24 hours), hyperlipidemia, and varying degrees of severity. It is classified into primary and secondary types. Secondary nephrotic syndrome can be caused by immune diseases (such as systemic lupus erythematosus), diabetes, secondary infections (such as bacteria, hepatitis B virus), circulatory system diseases, drug toxicity, and other factors. In the early stages of this disease, the basement membrane lesions are relatively mild. As the lesions progress, a large amount of protein is excreted in the urine, which is a significant cause of reduced plasma protein levels. The decrease in plasma protein levels, particularly the marked reduction in albumin, leads to a decline in plasma colloid osmotic pressure, promoting the leakage of fluid from blood vessels into the interstitial space, resulting in tissue edema and a decrease in effective blood volume. The mechanism by which nephrotic syndrome causes hyperlipidemia is not yet fully understood. When a large amount of protein is lost in the urine, the liver increases the synthesis of albumin, and the synthesis of lipoproteins also increases, contributing to hyperlipidemia. Additionally, a decline in the activity of lipoprotein lipase, which reduces the clearance of lipids, may also be a contributing factor.