Membranous nephropathy is a fairly serious kidney disease. In case of its occurrence, it is important to immediately contact a specialist and start treatment in a timely manner. Otherwise, you may encounter serious complications.
What it is?
This disease is an autoimmune pathology of the kidneys. It arises as a result of subsidence on the walls of the renal capillaries of immune complexes. This leads to a thickening and further stratification of the basement membranes and vessel walls.
This disease requires serious treatment, since over time it can contribute to the formation of renal failure. This is especially true for male patients in whom the disease at the earliest stages is accompanied by a decrease in glomerular filtration rate.
Etiology
Currently, the specific causes of this disease are unknown. At the same time, there is a whole list of factors that can lead to the development of membranous nephropathy. The main ones are the following:
- The presence of autoimmune diseases.
- The development of tumor diseases.
- Infectious pathology (especially viral hepatitis B).
- Continuous use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and captopril.
The presence of two or more provoking factors at once increases the likelihood of developing a disease. In addition, there is an increased risk of its occurrence in persons whose close relatives suffered from this pathology. Such people are recommended to undergo periodic medical examinations more often and take a general urine test.
Pathogenesis
Membranous nephropathy is an autoimmune disease. Thus, kidney damage occurs due to the activity of the body's own immune cells. First, cationic antigens are deposited in the subepithelial space. Over time, they accumulate and cause complement activation. As a result, the vascular basement membrane is damaged, which leads to the loss of protein and red blood cells with urine.
Symptomatology
With the development of this disease, the patient is rarely worried about any serious clinical manifestations. This leads to untimely seeking medical help and a more severe course of the disease.
The main symptoms of this pathology are:
- swelling of the face and ankles;
- the appearance in the urine of protein;
- an increase in the number of red blood cells in the urine (hematuria);
- moderate general weakness;
- periodic dizziness;
- fatigue;
- nausea;
- increased blood pressure (due to impaired renin-angiotensin-aldosterone renal system).
Often, this disease becomes an accidental find during a routine medical examination.
Diagnostics
To date, if there is a suspicion of the development of membranous nephropathy, the following examination is carried out:
- Determination of the level of autoimmune complexes in the analysis of urine.
- General urine analysis.
- Ultrasound examination of the kidneys.
- Renal tissue biopsy.
- Biochemical blood test (creatinine and urea levels are usually determined to detect the presence of renal failure).
- Determination of glomerular filtration rate.
Carrying out this examination allows not only to establish a diagnosis, but also to identify the degree of decrease in the functional capabilities of renal tissue.
Therapeutic measures
With the development of edema of the face, the occurrence of constant weakness (for no apparent reason), you should consult a doctor. This is necessary to start timely treatment of membranous nephropathy. To date, the complex of therapeutic measures for this disease includes the following drugs:
- diuretic drugs;
- cytostatics;
- antihypertensive drugs (in case of an increase in blood pressure due to impaired renal function);
- hormonal drugs;
- immunoglobulins;
- anticoagulants;
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
Subject to clinical guidelines, membranous nephropathy usually does not bother the patient. An exception is the situation when the disease began with a fairly serious decrease in glomerular filtration. It is especially difficult for male persons to carry it.
In some cases, this disease can lead to severe renal failure. This forces the patient to be sent for hemodialysis. This form of treatment greatly complicates the patient’s life, as he will have to visit a health care facility every 2-3 days and stay there for 3-4 hours. Moreover, equipment for hemodialysis is available only in large inter-district, as well as in specialized medical centers. This condition implies further registration of the patient for a disability group. Patients with extreme forms of renal failure cannot do without hemodialysis, since harmful substances that are released into the blood during the life of the cells cannot be removed from their body.
Diets
With membranous nephropathy, the doctor’s recommendations will include not only medications, but also a correction of the human diet. With the development of this disease, the following products should be discarded:
- wheat and rye bread;
- table salt (total consumption should not exceed 3 g per day);
- fatty varieties of fish, meat, poultry;
- meat, mushroom and fish broths;
- smoked meats;
- sorrel;
- pickled and pickled products;
- garlic;
- legumes;
- chocolate;
- coffee;
- bow;
- mineral water containing sodium;
- alcoholic drinks.
With this diet, membranous nephropathy will be much slower. In addition, such a diet will help significantly reduce the likelihood of developing such a disease if a person does not abuse these products before the appearance of pathological changes. It is also recommended to avoid excess calorie foods and the formation of excess weight.
Preventive measures
This disease has an incompletely studied etiology, but it is reliably known that the risk of developing this disease is much lower in people who do not suffer from another renal pathology. That is why it is important:
- do not supercool;
- to take timely treatment courses in case of development of acute kidney diseases, so as to prevent their transition to a chronic form;
- Do not abuse alcoholic beverages, smoked meats, chocolate, salt and other products not recommended for membranous nephropathy;
- maintain a sufficient level of physical activity and lead a rational lifestyle.
Even if the disease cannot be prevented, its severity in compliance with these rules will be significantly lower.