Question
What causes nephrotic syndrome?
Answer
Nephrotic syndrome is caused by a variety of factors, including primary and secondary factors. In adults, about two-thirds and most children’s cases of nephrotic syndrome are primary, including primary glomerulonephritis, acute and chronic glomerulonephritis, and rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis. According to pathological diagnosis, primary nephrotic syndrome mainly includes minimal change nephropathy, membranous nephropathy (membranous nephritis), mesangiocapillary proliferative nephritis (membranoproliferative nephritis), and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. Secondary causes include infection, medication (such as mercury, organic gold, penicillamine, and heroin), toxins and allergies, tumors (such as lung, gastric, colorectal, breast solid tumors and lymphoma), systemic lupus erythematosus, allergic purpura amyloidosis, and diabetes. One-third of adult cases of nephrotic syndrome and ten percent of pediatric cases may be caused by secondary factors.