Nephritis

Nephritis
Classification and external resources
MeSH	D009393

Nephritis is inflammation of the kidney. The word "Nephritis" was imported from Latin, which originated in Greek: Νεφρίτιδα. The word comes from the Greek νεφρός - nephro- meaning "of the kidney" and -itis meaning "inflammation". Nephritis is often caused by infections, toxins, and auto-immune diseases.

Subtypes

• Glomerulonephritis is inflammation of the glomeruli. (When the term "nephritis" is used without qualification, this is often the condition meant.)
• Interstitial nephritis or tubulo-interstitial nephritis is inflammation of the spaces between renal tubules.
• Pyelonephritis is inflammation that results from a urinary tract infection that reaches the pyelum (pelvis) of the kidney.
• Lupus nephritis is an inflammation of the kidney caused by systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), a disease of the immune system.

Nephritis is the most common cause of glomerular injury. It is a disturbance of the glomerular structure with inflammatory cell proliferation. This can lead to reduced glomerular blood flow, leading to reduced urine output (oliguria) and retention of waste products (uremia). As a result, red blood cells may leak out of damaged glomeruli, causing blood to appear in the urine (hematuria). Low renal blood flow activates the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS), causing fluid retention and mild hypertension.

Epidemiology

File:Nephritis and nephrosis world map - DALY - WHO2004.svg

Disability-adjusted life year for nephritis and nephrosis per 100,000 inhabitants in 2004.

     no data      less than 40      40-120      120-200      200-280      280-360      360-440      440-520      520-600      600-680      680-760      760-840      more than 840

See also

• Bright's Disease
• Wegener's granulomatosis

References

ar:التهاب الكلية uk:Нефрит (захворювання)