What is Glomerular Disease

Glomerular disease, also known as glomerulopathy, means the location of renal damages is in the renal glomeruli. To know what glomerular disease is, we need first make clear what is glomerulus and what are the functions of glomeruli.

The basic structure and functional unit of the kidney is nephron which consists of renal glomeruli, renal capsule and renal tubules. To make it simple, glomerulus is a cluster of blood capillaries which can filter the blood and produce urine. When the glomeruli are damaged due to primary, secondary or hereditary factors can there be a series of clinical symptoms such as blood urine, protein urine, high blood pressure, swelling, etc.

Secondary glomerular diseases are caused by systemic diseases such as lupus, diabetes and hereditary glomerular diseases are caused by genetic mutations. As for primary glomerular diseases, the exact causes are often unclear. It accounts for the most majority of glomerular diseases and is the main cause of chronic renal failure in China.

Pathogenesis of glomerular diseases

Most glomerular diseases are immune-mediated inflammations in the kidneys. Immune disorder and immune dysfunction is the starting point and with the participation of inflammatory factors like complements, interleukin and active oxygen, etc there will be glomerular damages and accordingly cause a series of clinical symptoms and signs. Of cause, during the chronic progression of the illness, many non-immune and non-inflammatory factors will take part and worsen glomerular damages such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia, massive proteinuria, etc.

Treatment plans for glomerular diseases

1. Bring blood pressure, blood sugar and blood lipid well under control. These are the major risk factors for speeding up glomerular sclerosis and aggravating illness conditions.

2. Hormones and immunosuppressant. They have quick and obvious effects on alleviating symptoms, but will cause many side effects. Therefore it should not be adopted as the only therapy in the long run.

3. Proper diets and nutrition. Reasonable daily diets and nutrition can help reduce strains on the kidneys and slow down renal damages.

4. Regular daily exercises can help improve immunity.

5. Herbal medicines, acupuncture, massage, tai chi, qi gong, medicated bath can help alleviate discomforts, regulate disorders and imbalances in internal body and the immune system.