What are Symptoms of Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis (FSGS)

Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) is a one of the common causes of end-stage kidney failure worldwide. It is a latent disease which means kidney damage can occur without being noticed. FSGS is more likely to occur in young males without peak onset ages within 20 to 40 years old. About 15 percent children with FSGS may develop to kidney failure 5-10 years after the diagnosis. Hence, people should take immediate treatments once they note the early signs/symptoms of the disease as below.

﹡Proteinuria

Proteinuria refers to protein loss from urine and it is the most common symptom of FSGS. As glomerular filtering cells are inflamed and the filtering barrier system is impaired, abnormally elevated amount of proteins will be present in urine. If there is a lot of foams urine that persist for a long time, it should raise people’s attention.

﹡Swelling

Edema/ swelling make the people swell up in their eyelids, limbs, ankles, etc. The patients may have their weight abnormally increased because of the retained water. As serum albumin holds fluid in blood vessels, if people don’t have enough albumin, fluid will run to body tissues to cause the symptom. Protein supplement to complement the loss will be helpful to treat swelling.

﹡Hypoproteinemia

Hypoproteinemia describes low albumin in bloodstream. As proteins are antibodies and important nutrient sources, loss of proteins can cause malnutrition, infections and immunity.

﹡Hyperlipidaemia

Hyperlipidaemia is caused by loss of albumin from urine. Hyperlipidaemia means intensified blood stasis which can increase risks of thrombosis and cardiovascular complications, and promote the occurrence of glomerular &tubular sclerosis to promote deterioration of the kidneys.

﹡Hematuria/blood in urine

Two types of hematuria may occur- gross and microscopic hematuria. The symptom occurs because the scarred glomerular cells don’t effectively prevent the leakage of red blood cells. Gross hematuria means severer red blood cell loss as opposed to microscopic hematuria.

﹡Chronic kidney failure

In some cases, FSGS relapses easily and can develop into diffuse sclerosising glomerular nephritis. Patients have their kidney function lost over years.

If you have any of the mentioned symptoms, it is necessary to seek for further evaluation to know if it is related to FSGS.