Why is it in the News?

On the heels of recent news reports on how keratin-based hair-straightening products containing glycolic acid derivatives led to severe kidney injury in women, researchers from Kerala have reported a series of cases wherein, the use of fairness creams has been linked to nephrotic syndrome.

What is Nephrotic Syndrome?

• Nephrotic syndrome causes scarring or damage to the filtering part of the kidneys (glomeruli).
• This causes too much protein to be lost from the blood into the urine.

People with nephrotic syndrome often have:

• • Low levels of protein in the blood (hypoalbuminemia)
  • Very high levels of protein in the urine (proteinuria)
  • Swelling (edema), especially around the eyes, feet, and hands
  • High cholesterol

What causes nephrotic syndrome?

• Nephrotic syndrome results from damage to the kidneys' glomeruli.
  • These are the tiny blood vessels that filter waste and excess water from the blood and send them to the bladder as urine.
  • The glomeruli keep protein in the body. When they are damaged, protein leaks into the urine.
  • Healthy kidneys allow less than 1 gram of protein to spill into the urine in a day.
  • In nephrotic syndrome, the glomeruli let 3 grams or more of protein leak into the urine during 24 hours.
• Nephrotic syndrome may happen with other health problems, such as kidney disease caused by diabetes and immune disorders.
• It can also develop after damage from viral infections.
• The cause of nephrotic syndrome is not always known.

What are the symptoms of nephrotic syndrome?

• The symptoms of nephrotic syndrome include:
  • Swelling or edema, typically in the ankles, feet, or legs
  • Fatigue
  • Loss of appetite
  • Weight gain
  • Foamy urine

Treatment:

• The treatment of nephrotic syndrome varies depending on its cause.
• However, it typically includes medications to treat the underlying cause, as well as changes in diet.
• Dietary changes that might help in treating nephrotic syndrome include Source:
  • limiting sodium
  • eating less protein
  • reducing the intake of saturated fat and cholesterol

Complications of nephrotic syndrome:

• Serious complications of nephrotic syndrome include kidney failure or end-stage renal disease (ESRD).
• Dialysis may be needed if kidney failure develops which can happen in extreme cases.