Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Causes of Membranous Nephropathy

Membranous nephropathy is caused by the thickening of part of the glomerular basement membrane. The glomerular basement membrane is a part of the kidneys that helps filter waste and extra fluid from the blood. The exact reason for this thickening is not known.

The thicker glomerular membrane does not work normally. Large amounts of protein are lost in the urine as a result.

This condition is one of the most common causes of nephrotic syndrome. It may be a primary kidney disease, or it may be associated with other conditions.

The following increase your risk for this condition:

Cancers, especially lung and colon cancer

Exposure to toxins, including gold and mercury

Infections, including hepatitis B, malaria, syphilis, and endocarditis

Medicines, including penicillamine, trimethadione, and skin-lightening creams

Systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, Graves' disease, and other autoimmune disorders

The disorder occurs in about 2 out of every 10,000 people. It may occur at any age, but is more common after age 40.

No comments:

Post a Comment