| Abstract: |
This fact sheet reviews glomerular diseases, which involve problems with the glomeruli, the tiny units within the kidney where blood is cleaned. The fact sheet focuses on glomerulonephritis, defined as inflammation of the membrane tissue in the kidney; and glomerulosclerosis, the scarring or hardening of the tiny blood vessels within the kidney. Written in a question-and-answer format, the fact sheet covers the anatomy and function of the kidneys, how glomerular diseases interfere with kidney function, the symptoms of glomerular disease, diagnostic tests used to confirm glomerular disease, the causes of glomerular disease, renal failure, and end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Specific diseases covered include systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), Goodpasture's syndrome, IgA nephropathy, Alport syndrome, infection-related glomerular disease, bacterial endocarditis, diabetic nephropathy, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, and minimal change disease (MCD). The booklet summarizes the points covered, provides a brief glossary of terms, lists resource organizations for readers seeking additional information, and a briefly describes the goals and activities of the National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse. 2 figures. |