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Overview:
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Overview:
Glomerular disease, as opposed to tubulointerstitial or vascular renal disease, may be suspected upon review of the history and by review of the urinalysis, which may demonstrate hematuria, lipiduria, or proteinuria.
Glomerular disease may be categorized in a variety of clinical and histological ways. The classification of a disorder as either "nephritic" (generally demonstrating hematuria and proteinuria) or "nephrotic" ( generally demonstrating heavy proteinuria) may be useful.
Focal nephritis involves less than 50% of nephrons and may be clinically milder, with findings of microscopic hematuria, intermittent gross hematuria, or non-nephrotic proteinuria; the patient may be asymptomatic.
Diffuse nephritis may involve all or most glomeruli and hematuria and proteinuria may be more extensive. Symptoms of edema, hypertension, and renal failure may be seen.
Nephrosis is associated with heavy proteinuria and lipiduria but little inflammatory sediment is seen in the urinalysis. The lack of inflammatory cell infiltration into the glomeruli in nephrotic syndrome is associated with relative preservation of glomerular filtration and renal function at the onset of disease.
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