Chronic glomerulonephritis

Alternative names:

chronic nephritis; glomerulonephritis - chronic

Symptoms:

• blood in the urine
• dark, rusty or brown colored urine
• foamy urine

Chronic renal failure symptoms that gradually develop:

• unintentional weight loss
• nausea, vomiting
• general ill feeling
• fatigue
• headache
• frequent hiccups
• generalized itching (pruritus)
• decreased urine output
• need to urinate at night
• easy bruising or bleeding
  • may have blood in the vomit or in stools

• decreased alertness
  • drowsiness, somnolence, lethargy
  • confusion, delirium
  • coma

• muscle twitching
• muscle cramps
• seizures
• increased skin pigmentation (hyperpigmentation)--skin may appear yellow or brown
• decreased sensation in the hands, feet, or other areas

Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease:

• urination, excessive volume
• nosebleed - symptom
• blood pressure, high

Signs and tests:

High blood pressure may be present along with abnormal urinalysis. Laboratory tests may reveal anemia or indicate reduced kidney functioning, including azotemia (accumulation of nitrogenous wastes such as creatinine and urea). Later, signs of chronic renal failure may be apparent, including edema, polyneuropathy, and signs of fluid overload including abnormal heart and lung sounds.

• A urinalysis may show blood, casts, protein, or some other abnormality.
• Kidney or abdominal ultrasound, kidney or some abdominal CT scan, or IVP may show small kidneys.
• A chest X-ray may show fluid overload.
• A kidney biopsy may show one of the forms of chronic glomerulonephritis or non specific scarring of the glomeruli.

This disease may also alter the results of the following tests:

• urine specific gravity
• urine concentration test
• uric acid, urine
• total protein
• renal scan
• RBC; urine
• protein, urine
• creatinine clearance
• creatinine - urine
• complement component 3
• complement
• BUN
• anti-glomerular basement membrane
• albumin
• abdominal MRI