Edema of renal origin – types, diagnosis, treatment

Proven content

Edema of the kidney may be a consequence of an increase in circulating blood volume as a consequence of decreased filtration or increased renal water re-absorption. As a result, the amount of urine output is much less. The treatment of edema is primarily a reduction in sodium intake and regular intake of diuretics.

Edema of renal origin – characteristics

Edema is a condition characterized by the accumulation of fluids in the extravascular space. These changes may appear in the course of various diseases, e.g. in hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism. Furthermore, edema of the renal origin may, for example, be a consequence of a decrease in oncotic pressure (which depends on the concentration of a protein in the blood plasma) as a consequence of excessive, non-physiological loss of this protein into the urine, e.g. in nephrotic syndrome. A hallmark of renal impairment in renal disease is that it occurs or worsens generally during the night, i.e. it increases especially in the morning (face, eyelid area) and then gradually subsides during the day. Edema may also occur due to increased permeability of the vessel walls and obstructed outflow of blood or lymph.

Types of edema

There are usually two types of edema:

1. generalized – arising in the course of liver, heart or kidney diseases and as a result of protein deficiency;
2. limited – formed due to difficult drainage of blood or lymph (swelling usually occurs due to local inflammation).

In people with chronic diseases, edema of the kidney is generally unnoticeable. They only increase rapidly in acute conditions and can very quickly lead to brain swelling. Increasing swelling may suggest chronic kidney failure, which affects filtration deterioration. The patients then excrete much less urine and sodium. This leads not only to edema, but also to arterial hypertension.

Diagnosis of edema of renal origin

A patient presenting to a doctor with a problem of edema should be carefully examined. During a medical visit, the doctor first of all checks whether there has been any fluid accumulation in the pleural cavity, pericardium and peritoneum. In addition, he auscultates the patient’s lungs – the alveolar murmur above the lungs will be reduced when there is fluid in the pleura. It is also important to examine the abdomen to determine if the patient has ascites. In addition to the above-mentioned tests, it is necessary to measure blood pressure (excess water in the body causes arterial hypertension).

We talk about kidney disease when the puffiness is accompanied by the following symptoms:

1. high levels of urea and creatinine,
2. presence of red blood cells, proteinuria and blood cells in the urinalysis,
3. hypertension.

Edema of renal origin and nephrotic syndrome

Nephrotic syndrome is an abnormal kidney symptom where protein is excreted in excess of the urine. Other distinctive features include:

1. swelling
2. deficiency of albumin in the blood plasma (they are responsible for the appropriate oncotic pressure),
3. lipid disorders – high levels of cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood and urine.

Nephrotic syndrome most often arises as a consequence of diseases such as: RA (rheumatoid arthritis), systemic lupus, diabetes or dermatomyositis. However, the factors that increase the risk of this disease include:

1. drug reactions,
2. previous infections, e.g. tuberculosis, toxoplasmosis,
3. poisoning,
4. tumors of the hematopoietic system (lymphoma, leukemia).

Swelling accompanying the nephrotic syndrome is almost imperceptible at first. Patients relatively often ignore the first symptoms, e.g. swelling of the eyelids, which they consider to be a natural consequence of lack of sleep. Over time, as the disease develops, swelling of the lower legs and the back surfaces of the hands and feet begins. The skin above the swelling is usually tight, smooth and pale (sometimes there are stretch marks). In addition, patients complain of increased body weight.

Idiopathic nephrotic syndrome it occurs mainly in boys aged 2-7 years. It is usually preceded by an inconspicuous infection. The excess of proteins other than albumin in the urine may lead to:

1. increased susceptibility to infections;
2. hypothyroidism;
3. anemia.

Edema of renal origin and kidney disease

Damage to the glomeruli makes it over-permeable to proteins that pass into the urine in large amounts. Usually, albumin is over-filtered, whose task is to maintain normal oncotic blood pressure (i.e. the pressure necessary for the appropriate ratio between intravascular and extravascular fluid). The low concentration of albumin in the blood causes the oncotic pressure to decrease and water begins to escape out of the vessels. Then, as a consequence, edema forms. In addition, when there is a shortage of fluid in the vessels, the body is thus prompted to retain water and sodium.

Edema of renal origin – treatment

Home countermeasures the occurrence of edema of renal origin consists in:

1. preventing any discomfort of the urinary organ,
2. regular and very thorough treatment of diagnosed diseases of this organ, including urinary tract infections and inflammations,
3. limit the amount of fluids you drink.

In patients with a diagnosed cause of renal edema, treatment is aimed at removing it. Every patient with diagnosed nephrotic syndrome should follow a proper diet that should limit sodium, water, saturated fat and cholesterol. To get rid of swelling, the doctor recommends taking diuretics (diuretics). On the other hand, it is usually implemented in idiopathic nephrotic syndrome steroid therapy. At the beginning, the dose of the drug is very high, but it gradually decreases over time.

Edema that occurs as a consequence of fluid overload should be treated with diuretics and water and sodium restriction. It may happen that the above treatments do not bring the expected benefits and dangerous edema develops, such as brain or pulmonary edema. Then the doctor’s intervention as soon as possible is necessary, because it is necessary dialysis treatments. It involves filtering the blood using a special device (“artificial kidney”). During dialysis, the blood flowing through the semipermeable membrane removes toxins and water.

Organic tea for healthy kidneys with juniper and birch, which is available in the Medonet Market offer, can support the excretory functions of the kidneys.

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