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Nephritis
 
 
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Nephritis is inflammation
Inflammation

Inflammation is the complex biological response of Blood vessel tissues to harmful stimuli, such as pathogens, damaged cells, or irritants. It is a protective attempt by the organism to remove the injurious stimuli as well as initiate the healing process for the tissue....
 of the kidney
Kidney

The kidneys are Organ that have numerous biological roles. Their primary role is to maintain the homeostasis balance of bodily fluids by filtering and secreting Metabolomics#Metabolitess and minerals from the blood and excreting them, along with water , as urine....
. The word comes from the Greek nephro- meaning "of the kidney" and -itis meaning "inflammation". Nephritis is often caused by infections, toxins, and auto-immune diseases.


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) & retention of waste products (uremia).






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Nephritis is inflammation
Inflammation

Inflammation is the complex biological response of Blood vessel tissues to harmful stimuli, such as pathogens, damaged cells, or irritants. It is a protective attempt by the organism to remove the injurious stimuli as well as initiate the healing process for the tissue....
 of the kidney
Kidney

The kidneys are Organ that have numerous biological roles. Their primary role is to maintain the homeostasis balance of bodily fluids by filtering and secreting Metabolomics#Metabolitess and minerals from the blood and excreting them, along with water , as urine....
. The word comes from the Greek nephro- meaning "of the kidney" and -itis meaning "inflammation". Nephritis is often caused by infections, toxins, and auto-immune diseases.

Subtypes

  • glomerulonephritis
    Glomerulonephritis

    Glomerulonephritis, also known as glomerular nephritis, abbreviated GN, is a kidney disease characterized by inflammation of the glomerulus, or small blood vessels in the kidneys....
     is inflammation of the glomeruli. (Often when the term "nephritis" is used without qualification, this is the condition meant.)
  • interstitial nephritis
    Interstitial nephritis

    Interstitial nephritis is a form of nephritis affecting the interstitium of the kidneys surrounding the Nephron#Renal_tubule. This disease can be either acute, which means it occurs suddenly or chronic, meaning it is ongoing and eventually ends in kidney failure....
     or tubulo-interstitial nephritis is inflammation of the spaces between renal tubules.
  • pyelonephritis
    Pyelonephritis

    Pyelonephritis is an ascending urinary tract infection that has reached the pyelum of the kidney . If the infection is severe, the term "urosepsis" is used interchangeably ....
     is when a urinary tract infection
    Urinary tract infection

    A urinary tract infection is a bacterial infection that affects any part of the urinary tract. Although urine contains a variety of fluids, salts, and waste products, it usually does not have bacteria in it....
     has reached the pyelum (pelvis) of the kidney.
  • Lupus nephritis
    Lupus nephritis

    Lupus nephritis is an inflammation of the kidney caused by systemic lupus erythematosus , a disease of the immune system. Apart from the kidneys, SLE can also damage the skin, joints, nervous system and virtually any organ or system in the body....
     is an inflammation of the kidney caused by systemic lupus erythematosus
    Systemic lupus erythematosus

    Systemic lupus erythematosus is a chronic Autoimmunity connective tissue disease that can affect any part of the body. As occurs in other autoimmune diseases, the immune system attacks the body?s cells and tissue, resulting in inflammation and tissue damage....
     (SLE), a disease of the immune system
    Immune system

    An immune system is a collection of biological processes within an organism that protects against disease by identifying and killing pathogens and tumour cells....
    .


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) & retention of waste products (uremia). As a result, there can also be leakage of red blood cells from damaged glomerulus (hematuria). Low renal blood flow activates the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS), which therefore causes fluid retention and mild hypertension.

See also

  • Bright's Disease
    Bright's disease

    Bright's disease is a historical classification of Nephrology that would be described in modern medicine as Acute or chronic nephritis. The term is no longer used, as diseases are now classified according to their more fully understood etiology....
  • Wegener's granulomatosis
    Wegener's granulomatosis

    Wegener's granulomatosis is a form of vasculitis that affects the lungs, kidneys and other organs. Due to its end-organ damage, it can be a serious disease that requires long-term immune suppression....