Diagnosis

A healthcare professional may diagnose glomerulonephritis during testing for another illness or during routine testing during a wellness visit. Tests to see how the kidneys are working include:

  • Urine test. Called a urinalysis, this test can show signs of the kidneys not working well. For instance, the test may show red blood cells and proteins that shouldn't be in urine. Or it may show white blood cells that are a sign of swelling and irritation, called inflammation.
  • Blood tests. Study of blood samples can show higher than expected levels of waste products in the bloodstream or antibodies that may mean an autoimmune condition. Blood tests also can find signs of infection.
  • Imaging tests. An X-ray, an ultrasound or a CT scan can show the shape and size of the kidneys.
  • Kidney biopsy. For this test, a healthcare professional uses a special needle to take small pieces of kidney tissue to look at under a microscope. A biopsy can confirm a diagnosis and show tissue damage.

Treatment

Treatment of glomerulonephritis depends on:

  • Whether you have an acute or chronic form of the condition.
  • The cause.
  • Your symptoms and how bad they are.

Most often, the goal of treatment is to protect your kidneys from more damage and to keep your kidneys working.

Depending on the cause of glomerulonephritis, treatments might include:

  • Antibiotics for bacterial infections.
  • Medicines that lower the immune system response. These may help with autoimmune conditions, such as lupus. A common type of these medicines is a corticosteroid, such as prednisone.
  • Water pills, also called diuretics, to ease swelling and lower blood pressure.
  • Blood pressure pills, mainly angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin-receptor blockers (ARBs) to lower blood pressure. They also can lower the amount of protein in the urine.
  • Plasmapheresis, a process that filters the blood to take out protein that is not typical. This form of treatment is not common. But it may help treat anti-GBM disease and Goodpasture syndrome.
  • Dialysis, which uses a device that filters blood to treat acute kidney failure.
  • Kidney transplant for kidney failure.

Researchers are studying new medicines for glomerulonephritis.

Lifestyle and home remedies

If you have a kidney condition, the following lifestyle changes may help:

  • Use less salt. This can help with fluid buildup, swelling and high blood pressure.
  • Eat less protein. This can slow the buildup of waste in your blood.
  • Stay at a healthy weight.
  • Get regular exercise.
  • Manage your blood sugar level if you have diabetes.
  • Manage high blood pressure if you have it.
  • Quit smoking.

Coping and support

Living with a chronic illness can bring up feelings such as stress and worry. If you have chronic glomerulonephritis or chronic kidney failure, joining a support group might help you cope.

To find a support group, ask your healthcare team or contact the National Kidney Foundation to find the chapter nearest you.

Preparing for your appointment

You'll likely start by seeing your main healthcare professional. If lab tests show that you have kidney damage, your healthcare professional might send you to a doctor who specializes in kidney conditions, called a nephrologist.

What you can do

To get ready for your appointment, ask if there's anything you need to do ahead of time, such as limit what you eat and drink. Make a list of the following:

  • Your symptoms, including any that don't seem linked to your kidneys, and when they began.
  • All the medicines, vitamins and supplements you take, including dosages.
  • Your key medical history, including any other medical conditions you or your family members have or had.

Take a family member or friend along, if possible, to help you remember the information you get.

When you have follow-up appointments after a diagnosis of glomerulonephritis, you may want to ask these questions:

  • How well are my kidneys working? Has this changed since the last exam?
  • When should I schedule lab work or another appointment?
  • How do the medicines you prescribed work? What side effects might I have?
  • Will I need dialysis?
  • What help can I get to manage linked conditions, such as support with diet planning or exercise?
  • What do I do if I miss a dose of a prescription?
  • When should I get urgent care?
  • Are there brochures or other printed information that I can have? What websites do you suggest?
By Mayo Clinic Staff