How Does Nephrotic Syndrome Cause Hypoalbuminemia

Nephrotic Syndrome is nonspecific kidney disorder in which clinical manifestations like proteinuria, edema, hypoalbuminemia and hyperlipidemia are caused. Hypoalbuminemia is a medical condition where levels of albumin in blood serum are abnormally low. We all know it is one of the dominant symptoms of Nephrotic Syndrome, but seldom of us know how it is caused by Nephrotic Syndrome.

How does Nephrotic Syndrome cause hypoalbuminemia?

Actually, hypoalbuminemia is closely related with proteinuria. We all know albumin is a major protein in our human body and it takes up about 60% of total human plasma protein by mass. Our kidney is composed of more than 2 million nephron which is comprised of glomerulus, Bowman’s capsule and renal tubule. In glomerulus, capillary wall perform filtration function and it can help to preserve protein in blood. However, for Nephrotic Syndrome patients, their glomerular filtration membranes are damaged and can not protect protein from being leaked. Consequently, large amounts of protein leak into urine and form proteinuria. Without timely and effective control, more and more protein leak into urine from blood, leading to the low content of protein in blood. When levels of albumin in blood decreases to a certain extent, hypoalbuminemia is caused. Hypoalbuminemia may cause generalized edema via a decrease in oncotic pressure.

How to treat hypoalbuminemia in Nephrotic Syndrome?

Protein is an extremely important nutrition of our body and we can not live normally without enough protein. For Nephrotic Syndrome patients, long-term hypoalbuminemia impairs their immunity and make them susceptible to various infection. For children with Nephrotic Syndrome, hypoalbuminemia not only affects their physical development, but also affect their mental development. Therefore, an effective treatment for hypoalbuminemia means a lot for Nephrotic Syndrome patients.

With hypoalbuminemia caused by Nephrotic Syndrome, patients need to ingest adequate high quality protein in their daily diet. High quality protein not only supply our body essential amino-acid and meanwhile cause less kidney burden. Foods like fish, egg white, milk and lean meat are the major sources of high quality protein. Also, if the illness condition is very serious, injection of albumin will be necessary.

Lastly, for Nephrotic Syndrome patients, hypoalbuminemia occurs because of serious leakage of protein from urine, so if they want to receive obvious treatment effects in treating hypoalbuminemia, repairing damaged glomerular filtration membrane to improve kidney function is essential.